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Phuket Kite Surfer Dies After Rescue off Phuket Beach

Thursday, May 31, 2012
Today's Updating Report

PHUKET: A kite surfer has died at a Phuket hospital after being pulled from the water off Phuket's Nai Harn beach today.

A boy - a Phuket Games 2012 visitor - was also rescued at another beach and is recovering.

The kite surfer, reported tonight as being a 45-year-old American, was admitted to Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket City after lifeguards and tourists went to his aid at Nai Harn.

A regular kite surfer at Nai Harn said he believed the man left his kite surfing equipment on the beach, went back into the water, and then needed assistance.

A lifeguard said he thought the man may have become tangled in his equipment.

But the regular kite surfer said the man collapsed after finishing his kite surfing session.

In a second incident, a student visiting with a Phuket Games team was being treated in the emergency room at Patong Hospital after being pulled from the water at Kata beach.

The boy should be ok, a hospital spokesperson reported. He was being give oxygen in the emergency treatment room.

The boy was one of a large group from the landlocked province of Sisaket who went to the beach today - for many, possibly the first time on a beach.

Locals said the children were inappropriately dressed in long sleeves and pants and the heavy clothing may have meant the boy was unable to stand when hit by waves.

Like the neighboring beach at Karon, Kata beach has at least one dangerous ''rip'' during monsoon season.

The death of the kite surfer makes four drownings on Phuket's west coast beaches since May 18.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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Need more info about the age and nationality, this could be our old friend, who had been teaching the sport for years.

Posted by JingJing on May 31, 2012 19:09

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"Locals said the children were inappropriately dressed in long sleeves and pants and the heavy clothing may have meant the boy was unable to stand when hit by waves."

Ok, that explains the "No Pants" sign I see at some beaches. I was wondering about that.

Posted by Joe on May 31, 2012 19:40

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this article has changed 2 times since ive read it, can we get some better info, did this guy die kitesurfing or swimming after kitesurfing? be careful with your reports, we have enough issues regarding the safety of our kitesurfing, mis-reporting can be detrimental to our sport so i suggest you do a complete concise report before posting misleading news then having to change it.

Posted by willy on May 31, 2012 20:03

Editor Comment:

So it's the survival of the sport you're worrying about, willy? Sorry, we're far more worried about the people. The first line in the article gives you a hint it might be updated - where it says in large type: Today's Updating Report.

Sorry you missed it.


Thursday March 28, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

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