The body of a 25-year-old British backpacker who had been missing for over a week has tragically been discovered at the bottom of a lift shaft at a construction site in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian police have confirmed.
Jordan Johnson-Doyle, a software engineer from Southport, Merseyside, was last seen on 27 May at Healy Mac’s Irish Bar in Bangsar, a popular nightlife district in the Malaysian capital.
He was believed to have visited another nearby venue, The Social, shortly afterward. When he failed to contact his family for three days, his mother, Leanne Burnett, raised the alarm and issued a desperate social media appeal.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo during the search, Ms Burnett said: “I’ve felt sick and numb. I just want to get out there, find him, and bring him home.”
His family flew out to Malaysia earlier this week to assist in the search, but on Wednesday (5 June), authorities confirmed the worst.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Commissioner Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa stated that the body was discovered at a construction site in Bangsar and later formally identified by a family member based on a distinctive tattoo.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Jordan had died from chest injuries consistent with a fall from a significant height. Police confirmed there were no signs of foul play and the case is being treated as a sudden death.
In a statement issued to MalaysiaToday, Commissioner Rusdi said: “It is hereby confirmed that the body found is that of Jordan Johnson-Doyle, who was reported missing on 2 June. The cause of death is chest injury due to a fall from height. No criminal elements were found at the scene.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed it is providing support to Mr Johnson-Doyle’s family and is liaising with local authorities.
Mr Johnson-Doyle had spent the past 18 months travelling across Asia while working remotely for a US-based tech company.
His disappearance had sparked widespread concern online, with friends and family urging people to share appeals to help find him.
The incident has cast a shadow over the British expat and backpacking community in Southeast Asia, highlighting the risks young travellers can face while abroad.
