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The man's body is carried from Patong beach this afternoon

UPDATE Phuket Drowning: Russian Tourist Found Dead at Patong

Tuesday, September 17, 2013
UPDATING All Day, Every Day

LIFEGUARDS accompanied a Russian woman to Patong Hospital this afternoon and identified the man as her husband, Alexey Tsymbalyuk, 45. The couple had been staying at the Thara Patong Beach Resort and Spa.

Original Report

PHUKET: Authorities are keen to learn the identity of a Western man whose body washed ashore at Patong beach this afternoon.

The man, dressed in a skimpy striped black swimming costume, looked to be perhaps aged in his 30s.

Lifeguards first spotted the body offshore about 1pm and brought it to the beach outside the Impiana Resort and Spa.

Kusoldharm Foundation paramedics took the man's body to Patong Hospital.

A growing number of tourists have drowned on Phuket's popular west coast holiday beaches this year.

Currents known as ''rips'' develop during the low season especially and have been responsible for more than 20 drownings already this year.

Lifeguards say they are powerless to cover the entire shore and need the help of resorts and local authorities to warn visitors about the dangers.

The British Embassy and Phuket Governor Maitree Intrusud are supporting a water safety summit, scheduled for Phuket in October.

Precise figures on the number of drownings on Phuket have become unavailable since the Phuket health department ceased issuing monthly statistics in April last year.

Chinese and European Union ambassadors have called for improvements in marine safety standards on Phuket.

The growing number of arrivals has meant more people are coming to Phuket from countries without knowledge of beaches or swimming precautions.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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Stop the mis-selling (mis-representation) of 'summer season' holidays. It is low season. Always has been. Always will be. The beaches haven't changed. It is the volume of low season tourists which has.

Posted by Logic on September 17, 2013 14:46

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Why not Post one or two Police at each portion of the Beach or some kind of representative of Thai authority , then when come the red flag up , if tourist still go in a water just fine them 500 Bath , first it's income second tourist will think twice before go in !! and you save life just say !

Posted by Grief Paul on September 17, 2013 15:08

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Australia has many Asian tourists especially in Queensland I have seen them but they have more lifeguards and more equipment. With all the billions of Baht give something back Thailand, give the lifeguards a decent salary and better equipment.

Posted by Fiesty Farang on September 17, 2013 15:37

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Fortunately Phuket Wan incudes the crucial detail that the deceased's bathing suit was skimpy. What would we do without this vital piece of information?

Posted by matt on September 17, 2013 18:49

Editor Comment:

At the time we included that information, matt, the man was unidentified. That kind of detail may now seem cause for low humor to you, but then adding information of value is not something you do.

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I will never understand this. A rip current doesn't mean all is over! Just don't panic, and then try to swim in a 90?? angle to the current and you'll be ok. Swimming against the current is not possible.

Posted by Dominik on September 17, 2013 18:54

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@Dominik: A russian from Moskow or the Taiga, knows zero about rip-tides, that's why they drown in droves, same with the inland Chinese.

Posted by Alex on September 17, 2013 20:21

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As long as money is more important than human life the resorts will, in general, keep failing to advise guests about the dangers of swimming during low season.

Posted by Arthur on September 18, 2013 15:10

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Arthur, I agree tourists need to be warned, but I would take it further than just the dangers of swimming, tourist have the right to know of ALL dangers, poorly trained and equipped life guards, tuk tuk and taxi scams, jet ski scams, large number of weapon carrying Thais, Thais never fight one on one (unless they are armed), corrupt police, police who don't give a grap about your problem, crazy/dangerous drivers, not to trust pedestrian crossings or traffic lights, dangerous road construction and maintenance, could be (and it has happened) killed by an elephant, bar girls, ladyboys, dangerous power cabling (in buildings and on the street)... I could go on forever. I challenge anyone to disagree. Duty of care does NOT stop at the beach.

Posted by DSI Watch on September 18, 2013 16:17

Editor Comment:

We've been through all this before, DSI Watcher, probably under one of your other aliases . . . it's unfair and unreasonable to gather all the negatives about any destination into one big dump. Not long ago, we compared the Australian city of Perth with Phuket and found that it was possible to frighten people from going to Perth simply by collating all the news about the attacks, the drunks on the roads, and the instances of hooliganism. Phuket is not especially dangerous, and nor is Perth, although it is wise to take into account lifeguard warnings and, if you must ride a motorcycle, wear a helmet and don't drink alcohol. No place in the world, DSI Watcher, is entirely safe, unless you truly do wish to go back to the womb. It appears that's the only place you might feel comfortable.

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Ed, I have no idea what you mean about Perth but my point here is that there are many things that tourists should be aware of, not only the dangerous beach conditions. This month alone we have seen tourists die on the roads and front falls from balconies, as well as a large rise in reported dengue fever cases. Are you suggesting this should be hidden from tourists? You seem to be concentrating on comparing violence in Phuket and Perth... Is that Perth, Tasmania or Western Australia? I never said any place is entirely safe, your words not mine, however most, if not all, those I mentioned are uniquely Phuket.

Posted by DSI Watch on September 18, 2013 19:17

Editor Comment:

Most of the problems that Phuket has are shared by other holiday destinations in developing countries where popularity is outpacing protection. As an observer with an apparent prejudice against Phuket, DSI Watch (er) you stretch the facts then retreat quickly in the face of a challenge. Phuket (and Perth) need positive suggestions from people seriously interested in solving problems, not uninformed, exaggerated criticism. Yes, there is room for improvement. Is your comment a positive step in the right direction? No. We're not interested in negative. Offer solutions, or don't bother.


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