A RUSSIAN tourist was pulled dead from the water at a west coast Phuket beach this afternoon, and a Thai boy was found drowned at an east coast Phuket beach this morning.
The day of double tragedy highlighted once again the issue of warnings, safety and resuscitation skills at beaches around Phuket.
It is not known whether the 55-year-old Russian was a victim of drowning or a heart attack, but his death came on a weekend when four Russian tourists were also rescued from surf at Phuket beaches, prompting concern about Russians especially.
The Russian man's name has been given to Phuketwan but publication is being witheld until his relatives have been notified. It is believed he was a guest at the Courtyard by Marriott at Surin, a popular upmarket resort beach north of Patong and Kamala.
Surin beach was not considered dangerous for swimming today around noon, when the man's body was found in shallow water.
A spokesperson for Phuket's lifeguards expressed alarm tonight because two Russians were pulled from the surf yesterday at Nai Thon beach, and two more Russians had to be rescued today at Karon beach.
''Of all the people who visit Phuket for a holiday from different countries, we find the Russians are hardest to persuade that the sea is not safe, and that it is not wise for them to enter,'' she said. The man's body is at Thalang Hospital.
In first tragedy, the body of a seven-year-old boy was found drowned on a beach at Koh Sireh, east of Phuket City, about 10am.
The parents of Threerasak Jompon sounded the alarm earlier this morning when they went to the local police staion to report that their son had not come home after heading out yesterday to play with friends.
Police checked with his friends, who said they did not know where he was.
The other boys either thought young Threerasak had headed home alone or did not speak up out of fear, officers said.
Koh Sireh is off Phuket's east coast and linked to the mainland by a bridge. The beaches there are tidal and shallow and not considered dangerous for anyone who can swim.
The number of drownings on Phuket is well down on last year, with lifeguards posted at present on 13 popular west coast beaches.
Phuket Killer and Victim Boasted About PayThe day of double tragedy highlighted once again the issue of warnings, safety and resuscitation skills at beaches around Phuket.
It is not known whether the 55-year-old Russian was a victim of drowning or a heart attack, but his death came on a weekend when four Russian tourists were also rescued from surf at Phuket beaches, prompting concern about Russians especially.
The Russian man's name has been given to Phuketwan but publication is being witheld until his relatives have been notified. It is believed he was a guest at the Courtyard by Marriott at Surin, a popular upmarket resort beach north of Patong and Kamala.
Surin beach was not considered dangerous for swimming today around noon, when the man's body was found in shallow water.
A spokesperson for Phuket's lifeguards expressed alarm tonight because two Russians were pulled from the surf yesterday at Nai Thon beach, and two more Russians had to be rescued today at Karon beach.
''Of all the people who visit Phuket for a holiday from different countries, we find the Russians are hardest to persuade that the sea is not safe, and that it is not wise for them to enter,'' she said. The man's body is at Thalang Hospital.
In first tragedy, the body of a seven-year-old boy was found drowned on a beach at Koh Sireh, east of Phuket City, about 10am.
The parents of Threerasak Jompon sounded the alarm earlier this morning when they went to the local police staion to report that their son had not come home after heading out yesterday to play with friends.
Police checked with his friends, who said they did not know where he was.
The other boys either thought young Threerasak had headed home alone or did not speak up out of fear, officers said.
Koh Sireh is off Phuket's east coast and linked to the mainland by a bridge. The beaches there are tidal and shallow and not considered dangerous for anyone who can swim.
The number of drownings on Phuket is well down on last year, with lifeguards posted at present on 13 popular west coast beaches.
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I helped pull the guy out of the water. There seemed to be no one on the beach - lifeguard or restaurant employee - who knew how to apply CPR.
Worse, the ambulance attendees were clearly inadequately trained. Hopefully the government and concerned businesses in Surin will sit down and review the options.
Posted by JS on October 18, 2010 07:06