A young mother from Australia tragically passed away during what was meant to be a dream vacation in Thailand. Her son is now seeking assistance to bring her remains back home.
Karla Drescher, a digital creator and operations manager hailing from Darwin, embarked on her journey from the Northern Territory’s capital on October 15. Unfortunately, she passed away 12 days later.
During her stay, Ms. Drescher was at the Sawasdee Village Resort in Phuket, where she had booked the Baray Villa, as noted in her last Facebook updates.
In a chilling post, she uploaded a video before flying to Thailand, captioned: ‘See how I pack my bags and leave the country instead of killing someone’.
Her son, Travis Deveraux, who also resides in the Northern Territory, initiated a GoFundMe campaign on Wednesday. The aim is to gather funds necessary for the repatriation of his mother’s body.
“Hello everyone, sadly my mum has passed away while on holiday in Thailand on 27/10/25. I need help to cover the cost to get her home and for the celebration of her life for all you to join,” he shared in his heartfelt appeal.
“Appreciate any donations and all your support; you are amazing people,” he expressed with gratitude.
The appeal had raised $21,485 of its $30,000 target by Thursday afternoon.
The day Ms Drescher left Darwin a friend wrote on her Facebook page: ‘Trip of a lifetime! I hope you’re ready for an adventure!’
Australian mother Karla Drescher (above) has died while on ‘the trip of a lifetime’ in Thailand and her son is now appealing for help to bring her body home
Karla Drescher, a digital creator and operations manager from Darwin, flew out of the Northern Territory capital on October 15 and died 12 days later
In a chilling post, she uploaded a video before flying to Thailand, captioned: ‘See how I pack my bags and leave the country instead of killing someone’
Another friend commented: ‘Have great time you are looking beautiful as usual see you soon.’
New Zealand-born Ms Drescher recorded her adventures on Facebook for the next 12 days, with her last update posted two days before she died.
On October 25 she shared a video taken while she enjoyed a herbal detox spa at the Sawasdee Village Resort.
Four days earlier Ms Drescher updated her cover photograph with a bikini picture and uploaded a video of herself on a boat.
The previous day she described realising a years-long dream to visit Maya Bay on the island of Ko Phi Phi Le where the 2000 adventure drama The Beach was filmed.
‘Has been on my bucket list, it did not disappoint,’ Ms Drescher wrote.
On October 18, Ms Drescher posted pictures of herself with two elephants and a video of her washing one of the animals.
‘Meet Linda and Pearl,’ she began that post. ‘They have been rescued from a life of work and cruelty and now reside at a sanctuary that rehabilitates them to eventually release them back into the wild.’
Ms Drescher recorded her Thai adventures on Facebook, including meeting two elephants saved from a life of work to live in a sanctuary
Ms Drescher had been staying at the Sawasdee Village Resort (above) in Phuket, where she rented the Baray Villa, according to her final Facebook posts
The previous day Ms Drescher shared a video of her getting out of bed, stretching, then donning a bikini to head to one of the resort’s three pools.
Sawasdee Village’s website describes the $288-a-night Baray Villa as offering ‘two storeys of ethereal opulence’.
‘With an indoor dip pool, outdoor private pool and sundeck leading to the main canal pool – it is a heavenly hideaway for all,’ the website boasts.
A community Facebook page for Howard Springs, 25km south-east of Darwin, promoted Mr Deveraux’s GoFundMe appeal.
‘Some people will know her beautiful smile and living life with her son,’ one member wrote.
‘Let’s dig deep and please bring our beloved friend and mother Karla Anne Drescher back home to her son Travis Deveraux .
‘A beautiful life taken away while on holidays overseas. Please share far and wide. Our love is with Travis and family right now.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Sawasdee Village Resort, the Royal Thai Police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.
