The boy, Awiwat Seatan, was a Karon local. Lifeguards said there were no red flags flying, and no signs of ''rip'' undercurrents.
''Today was a good day for swimming,'' one lifeguard told Phuketwan. The tragedy took place on the sands near the Karon sports stadium about 5pm.
The boy could swim and had gone to the beach with a cousin.
Lifeguards tried to revive the boy on the beach and he was taken to Patong Hospital in an ambulance. He died at the hospital.
The toll of drownings this year at Phuket's popular west coast beaches has alarmed ambassadors and led to a water safety summit being scheduled for next month in tandem with the Phuket International Boat Show.
Today's tragedy was an exception. Most of the victims at Karon and other beaches tend to be older people who in some cases have not been warned of the prospect of the holiday beach actually being dangerous.
In terms of being proactive and preventing needless deaths, more resort staff must become aware of the Phuket beaches and their moods.
In terms of being reactive, Phuket needs a considerable increase in the 108 lifeguards who currently patrol the beaches but who find it difficult to prevent people entering the water to enjoy the beach holiday they've paid to take.
The body of Awiwat is at Patong Hospital.
Took too long until ambulance arrived, also it seemed emergency services in this area are not trained well. The lifeguard did a good job but ambulance- sad story!
Posted by Tobias on December 14, 2013 22:21