TWO people, one a Russian tourist and the other a Thai, drowned at Karon beach yesterday in separate incidents - two more notches of death for a notorious strip of sand that must surely face closure on danger days to prevent more tragedies.
The body of the Thai man, who went swimming in jeans with a friend at Karon's northern end yesterday, near the new Centara Grand Resort, washed up today close to the beach centre, opposite the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa.
The Russian man, a tourist, went swimming despite warnings from lifeguards and was pulled from the water about 5.30pm yesterday, about the same time as the Thai man disappeared further along Karon beach.
The Russian's companion, who told lifeguards he was a doctor, helped apply cpr. But the tourist died in an ambulance on the way to Patong Hospital. He was named today as Dimitry Kuznephov, 40.
The body of Kittisak Klongpiled, 25, who vanished yesterday, was fetched from the Karon sand about 3pm today. He was a construction worker from Isarn.
Chalong police were called to investigate both drownings. Two more deaths in a single day make calls for the closure of Karon beach on danger days the only sensible option.
Every death further damages the reputation of Karon and Phuket. While the beach is relatively safe in the high season between December and April, rip currents make it a death trap during the monsoon low season.
Ironically, the beach was No. 4 on the Lonely Planet list of the ''world's best family beaches'' just last year. There are families who have been through the mourning process all over the world now who can say that is definitely not an accurate listing.
Some resorts along the Karon beachfront have reacted to pleas from the lifeguards for help in warning tourists of the dangers. Others reject any responsibility.
Phuket's reputation for tourist safety and security rides on the strength of communal approaches that have yet to be seen in Karon.
Other Phuket beaches have been the scene of drownings. But the continuing heavy toll shows that Karon is, quite simply, a potential death strip virtually every day between April and December.
The call last month by Phuket Lifeguard Club chief Prathayut ''Nut'' Cheryon to close the beach to save would-be swimmers from themselves must now surely be heeded.
It's also time that ethical resorts stopped marketing Karon as a year-round beach holiday destination.
Phuket Lifeguards Say 'Let's Close Karon Beach'The body of the Thai man, who went swimming in jeans with a friend at Karon's northern end yesterday, near the new Centara Grand Resort, washed up today close to the beach centre, opposite the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa.
The Russian man, a tourist, went swimming despite warnings from lifeguards and was pulled from the water about 5.30pm yesterday, about the same time as the Thai man disappeared further along Karon beach.
The Russian's companion, who told lifeguards he was a doctor, helped apply cpr. But the tourist died in an ambulance on the way to Patong Hospital. He was named today as Dimitry Kuznephov, 40.
The body of Kittisak Klongpiled, 25, who vanished yesterday, was fetched from the Karon sand about 3pm today. He was a construction worker from Isarn.
Chalong police were called to investigate both drownings. Two more deaths in a single day make calls for the closure of Karon beach on danger days the only sensible option.
Every death further damages the reputation of Karon and Phuket. While the beach is relatively safe in the high season between December and April, rip currents make it a death trap during the monsoon low season.
Ironically, the beach was No. 4 on the Lonely Planet list of the ''world's best family beaches'' just last year. There are families who have been through the mourning process all over the world now who can say that is definitely not an accurate listing.
Some resorts along the Karon beachfront have reacted to pleas from the lifeguards for help in warning tourists of the dangers. Others reject any responsibility.
Phuket's reputation for tourist safety and security rides on the strength of communal approaches that have yet to be seen in Karon.
Other Phuket beaches have been the scene of drownings. But the continuing heavy toll shows that Karon is, quite simply, a potential death strip virtually every day between April and December.
The call last month by Phuket Lifeguard Club chief Prathayut ''Nut'' Cheryon to close the beach to save would-be swimmers from themselves must now surely be heeded.
It's also time that ethical resorts stopped marketing Karon as a year-round beach holiday destination.
Latest Lifeguards are calling for the closure on danger days of one popular Phuket beach unless more improvements can be made to safeguard tourists who opt to swim despite warnings.
Phuket Lifeguards Say 'Let's Close Karon Beach'
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I could not agree more with this report. This will be a classic showdown between Big Money and the value of human life.
Let's see where the scales will settle here in Thailand. Call me a cynic if you want but somehow I'm not too optimistic.
Posted by Chris on November 9, 2010 17:16