PHUKET: A Chinese tourist died while on a holiday day-trip to snorkel off a beach near Phi Phi island today.
The man, named by police as Xu Weixiang, 44, was pulled from the water at Laomoodee Bay about 4pm.
He was taken to the holiday island's small hospital but did not respond to treatment.
Exceptionally high numbers of Chinese tourists drown or die from preexisting conditions while on snorkelling trips to Phi Phi or to other islands off Phuket, including Koh Racha, an island about 40 minutes away by speedboat.
One problem that has yet to be addressed by local authorities and tour groups is that Chinese tourists are often inexperienced in the water and do not know how to use snorkels.
The result is that some tourists drown face-down in the water without making a great deal of noise or generating a response from tour guides and boat boys, who often do not see playing lifeguards to tourists as part of their role.
The man's body was transferred to the morgue at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City late today.
The man, named by police as Xu Weixiang, 44, was pulled from the water at Laomoodee Bay about 4pm.
He was taken to the holiday island's small hospital but did not respond to treatment.
Exceptionally high numbers of Chinese tourists drown or die from preexisting conditions while on snorkelling trips to Phi Phi or to other islands off Phuket, including Koh Racha, an island about 40 minutes away by speedboat.
One problem that has yet to be addressed by local authorities and tour groups is that Chinese tourists are often inexperienced in the water and do not know how to use snorkels.
The result is that some tourists drown face-down in the water without making a great deal of noise or generating a response from tour guides and boat boys, who often do not see playing lifeguards to tourists as part of their role.
The man's body was transferred to the morgue at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City late today.
It should be mandatory for staff conducting and supervising snorkel tours to be at least of Dive Master training level.
Furthermore a safety briefing in the native language of the group, perhaps translated by a guide, should be required.
Can't just haul people out to sea, give them a mask, fins and snorkel and shove them overboard to see how many will return alive.
Not even if they have already paid in advance.
Posted by Herbert on April 1, 2015 22:44