Canadian man dies after New Year's Eve party in Thailand

Family members have identified the victim as Clinton Munkittrick, 26, from Quebec's Eastern Townships region, CTV News reports said.

New Year Eve was being celebrated at Haad Rin Beach in Koh Phangnan that was attended by an estimated 20,000 people.

Munkittrick, with another tourists, decided to go swimming in high waves. Authorities had banned swimming at the beach due to the water conditions, Bangkok Post reported.

The two were pulled out of the water, but Munkittrick died early Sunday, police said. The other tourist was taken to hospital with injuries.

Munkittrick had been travelling with his brother Patrick in Thailand.

“Since the morning of the first of January I lived the hardest moments of my life,” Patrick wrote on his Facebook page.

As news of his death began to spread late Sunday, tributes began to pour in on social media.

A public Facebook page has been set up so friends and family can share their memories and condolences.

According to one of the posts on his Facebook, which said, "The 26-yr-previous Canadian who drowned in Thailand over New Yr’s Eve has been recognized as Clinton Munkittrick, a resident of the Japanese Townships and former scholar at Bishop’s College."

Another facebook page said information about services for Clinton would be provided when they became available.

Munkittrick's relatives said they did not wish to speak to public about the demise of Clinton.

A Facebook post said, "We are all dealing with so much," the post read. "All we will say is that we are incredibly sad to have lost Clinton. He was a bright light that shone on us all. We are gathering together at this time to lean on each other and get through this difficult time."

(Reported by Asha Bajaj, Image of Clinton Munkittrick: Facebook)