UPDATING All Day, Every Day
THE TOURIST who drowned at Karon has been identified as a Chinese, Qi Chunhua, 43. His body is at Patong Hospital.
Original Report
PHUKET: A tourist has died at Patong Hospital of drowning despite efforts to rescue him and two others from rough surf today.
It was feared to be the second tourist death from drowning along Phuket's west coast beaches in two days.
The man and two female companions were swimming in a red flag area outside the lifeguard patrolled zone when the three of them got into difficulties about 2.30pm, according to Utane Singsom, the leader of the lifeguards at Karon beach.
''We rescued all three of them but the man did not survive,'' Khun Utane said. ''He died at Patong Hospital, we were told.''
The surf was particularly rough today, according to lifeguards.
Earlier in the day another tourist, a Chinese man, suffered a dislocated neck at Karon when he was hit from behind by a dumper. and driven into the sand.
The three people disappeared into the surf opposite the sports stadium in Karon.
Lifeguards say it's difficult to control large numbers of tourists who sometimes insist on swimming despite the dangers.
A Korean man, Seo Seungin, 45, disappeared at Kata Noi beach yesterday and is feared drowned. Searchers have yet to locate his body.
If they were outside the patrol area on a red flag day what can you do? Self responsibility must come into it somewhere. Another needless drowning.
Posted by Arun Muruga on August 13, 2015 19:07
Editor Comment:
The translation problem makes it difficult to determine precisely what happened but in previous cases, not enough warnings have been given. People from non-swimming, no-beaches places are not aware of the risks or the danger signs. The signage at the airport is hidden (and in English). It's unlikely the visitors were warned when they checked in, as they all should be at this time of the year. Once tourists hit the beach, determined to swim, it's too late. Another needless drowning.