Thai travel YouTuber Hlun Solo has died in Georgia after disappearing during a solo trip earlier this month, Thai authorities confirmed on 29 July.
Known online as Hlun Solo, Bowornthat built a loyal following by documenting his solo travels around the world. His YouTube channel has nearly one million subscribers.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified the content creator as Bowornthat Pengsuk, also reported as Bavorntat Pengsook, and said it is working with the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara and Georgian authorities to return his body to Thailand for funeral rites.
The confirmation came more than two weeks after Bowornthat’s family lost contact with the 27-year-old while he was travelling alone in Georgia to film content for his popular travel channel. His disappearance prompted a public search led by relatives, fellow content creators and thousands of followers.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jaithai Upakaranitikaset said embassy officials travelled to Georgia and met with local authorities, who confirmed Bowornthat’s identity, according to Thai media. The embassy has informed his family and will continue assisting them while Georgian authorities investigate the case.
Authorities have not released the cause of death.
Georgian news outlet Civil.ge reported that police found Bowornthat dead in a hotel room in the capital, Tbilisi. Authorities have opened a criminal investigation into possible “incitement to suicide,” a provision Georgian police commonly use when someone dies under unclear circumstances while investigators determine the cause of death. Opening the case does not mean police have concluded that suicide caused his death.
Investigations are Ongoing
However, the timeline surrounding the case remains unclear.
OC Media reported that authorities found Bowornthat’s body on 14 July, just one day after his family last contacted him, but did not publicly confirm his death until 29 July.
During that time, Bowornthat’s family continued searching for him. On 28 July, his brother, who uses the Facebook name Klose Mos, appealed for information on social media, saying the family had been unable to contact him since 13 July by phone or through any online platform.
The Georgian also reported that the Thai Embassy in Ankara continued posting updates about efforts to locate the missing traveller just hours before Georgian authorities confirmed his death. It remains unclear when Georgian authorities identified Bowornthat or when they notified Thai officials and his family.
Another Thai influencer first announced Bowornthat’s death on social media on 29 July after coordinating with his brother and police in Georgia. The influencer said the family had given permission to share the news publicly so volunteer search efforts could end.
Fans Across Laos Mourn Hlun Solo
The news also hit social media in Laos, where Hlun Solo had built a large fan base through his travel videos. Dozens of Lao social media users shared tributes after the confirmation of his death, with many expressing disbelief. Some wrote, “Tell me this is fake news,” while others said they could not accept that a creator they had followed for years had died under such tragic circumstances.
Georgian authorities continue to investigate the case and have not said when they expect to release further findings.
