An American army officer died while on temporary duty in Thailand for the annual Cobra Gold exercise, according to a statement issued by the US embassy yesterday.
Maj Andrew Cotter was found unresponsive and later confirmed dead on Feb 28. A native of Kansas, Maj Cotter served as the operations officer for the 17th Field Artillery “Thunderbolt” Brigade, I Corps, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
“We are saddened by the loss of Maj Cotter. The entire Thunderbolt family feels this loss deeply, and our thoughts, prayers, and support are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” said Col Thomas Murphy, commander of the 17th Field Artillery Brigade.
No foul play is suspected, he said.
According to a source, Maj Cotter accidentally fell in a bathroom inside a military camp in the 31st Infantry Regiment in Lop Buri. Police discovered his body inside a bathroom area. A doctor at Ananda Mahidol Hospital in Lop Buri found a serious wound on his head.
Police gathered all evidence and reported the death to the Immigration Bureau. The incident is under investigation.
Meanwhile, a South Korean soldier broke his right arm and right leg when he fell into a sand hole while training on Thung Prong Beach in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district yesterday. A field medical team provided first aid before flying him by helicopter to a hospital.
Cobra Gold 2023 is the largest international military exercise in mainland Asia.