British tourist Stephen Ashton, 22, shot dead at New Year’s party in Thailand

A British man has been killed in a gunfight between gangs in Thailand on New Year's Eve.

Stephen Ashton, 22, was caught by a stray bullet during a fight between two groups at a bar on Koh Phangan, according to the Bangkok Post.

Ashton — a stockbroker, according to the London Telegraph — was shot in the upper body and rushed to Bandon International Hospital on the neighboring island of Koh Samui, where he was pronounced dead.

Police investigating the incident later arrested a Thai man, Ekkapan Kaewkla, 26, who was found with a homemade gun, according to the Post.

The Bangkok Post wrote that Ashton had been visiting the island with four or five friends and was staying at Pink Bungalow near the scene of the shooting.

Koh Phangan, according to the Guardian, had always been a popular destination for British backpackers, but in recent years had drawn hundreds of thousands to its famous "full moon" parties.

Tourism officials told the paper that around 80,000 turned up for Friday's full moon party, which fell on Friday and coincided with the new year celebrations.

The Foreign Office said it was aware of the death of a British national in Thailand, and was providing consular assistance to the family.

The BBC quoted Ashton's neighbor, Dawn Mason, as saying he was a "normal, likeable young man" whose family had moved to south London about three years ago.

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