British woman dies during cosmetic surgery in Thailand

A 24-year-old British woman has died during cosmetic surgery at a clinic in Bangkok, prompting Thai police to arrest her surgeon for criminal negligence, officials said Friday.

The Briton died during a corrective procedure on Thursday evening at a cosmetic surgery clinic in the northern Lat Phrao district of the capital where she previously underwent liposuction, police lieutenant Chaleang Inthip told AFP.

"She visited the clinic for liposuction on October 14 and came back yesterday after contracting an infection... She died at the clinic at around 9.30pm," he said.

The surgeon who operated on her has been detained in a Bangkok prison for causing death through negligence, a charge which carries a maximum of 10 years in jail, Chaleang said.

The British Embassy in Bangkok said Friday it was "aware of reports of the death of a British national in Bangkok on 23 October".

"We are providing consular assistance and cannot provide any further details at the moment," it said in a statement.

Thailand is a popular medical tourism hub with foreigners drawn by its reputation for low-cost but high-quality treatment.