TRIBUTES have been paid to a charity worker from Suffolk who was killed in a hit and run accident while on holiday in Thailand.

Elliot Furniss

TRIBUTES have been paid to a charity worker from Suffolk who was killed in a hit and run accident while on holiday in Thailand.

Claire Cox, 42, died last week during a break in the Southeast Asian country.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed that Thai police were investigating her death after the accident on the Island of Koh Samui on April 29.

Claire worked as a finance administrator for Mencap Ipswich and was involved in the Genesis Project, which aims to improve the lives of disabled people in Suffolk.

Nino Serritiello, chief executive officer of Mencap Ipswich, paid tribute to Claire, who had worked for the charity for two and a half years.

He said: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm that our finance administrator Claire Cox tragically had a fatal accident in Thailand last week and that relatives have been informed.

“She was a much valued member of staff and close friend to many at Genesis and will be missed greatly.

“Our thoughts are with her family, especially Adam, her son, and we have and will continue to provide any possible help and assistance.”

Koh Samui is located off the east coast of Thailand's Kra Isthmus and is the second most visited Thai island, behind Phuket. Tourism has recently overtaken coconut production as its main industry.

Last month it was reported in the Thai English-language newspaper The Nation that 81 people had been killed in hit-and-run incidents in and around the capital Bangkok during January, February and March.