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An official points to a warning sign at Phuket's Bang Tao beach last night

Korean Tourist Ignores Repeated Warnings, Drowns in Phuket Surf at Bang Tao

Saturday, July 18, 2015
PHUKET: A Korean man who refused to leave the dangerous surf at a Phuket beach yesterday drowned after ignoring multiple warnings, according to witnesses.

The man, due to turn 20 later this month, declined to take any notice of a warning sign in five languages at Bang Tao beach - including Korean - or the lifeguards at the Outrigger Beach Resort.

Seungchei Yang was pulled from the surf about 6pm with another companion. The other man was revived but Mr Yang could not be resuscitated.

Earlier, going for a swim on the second day of a Phuket holiday, Mr Yang and five friends had to be ordered from the rough surf repeatedly despite the obvious dangers.

Safety experts have noted the need to warn Phuket tourists in a more thorough way that the holiday island is not a safe beach swimming destination at this time of the year.

Monsoon storms swirl in from May and the dangerous rip currents created at many Phuket beaches have claimed a needless number of lives of tourists and residents. The high season from November brings safer, more tranquil seas.

Lifeguards say it's too late to properly warn visitors once they reach the beach in their trunks, determined to swim. It has often been suggested that large warning signs need to be placed at Phuket International Airport, and that warnings need to be repeated by receptionists at check-in.

Some advertising for Phuket remains deceptive and fails to disclose that May to October is less safe for swimming.

The man's body was taken to Thalang Hospital.

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Is there a tally of how many people have drowned in Phuket so far in 2015?

One is one too many.

Posted by farang888 on July 19, 2015 06:39


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