A TOURIST from Germany has become the first victim of Phuket's dangerously steep monsoon season surf and undercurrents.

Marek Klein, 51, was pulled from the water dead after going for a swim alone at Surin, on Phuket's west coast, about 5.30pm on Wednesday.

His death is likely to intensify calls for resorts and airlines to warn tourists of the dangers in the water before more lives are lost. Other needless deaths are bound to follow unless proper warnings are delivered, both at Phuket resorts and on incoming flights.

Mr Klein was spotted in the water, but his body could not be retrieved for about 30 minutes because the surf was too strong.

An autopsy at Vachira Hospital in Phuket City will determine whether Mr Klein drowned or suffered a heart attack while in the water.

Even with red flags placed along beaches, Thais and expat tourists continue to try to enjoy their ''summer holidays'' on Phuket by swimming in the sea, despite the dangers.

The answer, experts now say, lies with proper warnings in resorts in at least six languages. The warnings should also be delivered on aircraft as passengers descend to Phuket.

Official Public Health figures report five deaths by drowning on Phuket for April, compared to 10 deaths on the island's roads. This indicates the disproportionate danger of Phuket's beaches, especially during the monsoon season, when the number of drownings usually rises.

US disaster researcher Robert X Fogarty recently visited Phuket to examine the tsunami warning system. His strong recommendation was that passengers on flights arriving on Phuket should be told about the possibility of tsunami alerts. A message should also be delivered at the same time about the danger of swimming when red flags are posted on the beaches.

Ten seconds devoted to both issues at the end of the regulation promotional video has the potential to save many lives.

Lifeguards are still being trained as part of a more comprehensive approach to protection of locals and tourists on Phuket's popular west coast beaches.

But the groups remain in the training phase and are not yet equipped with skills or the gear required to execute big-seas rescues.

Local Surin surfer Luke Remmers says: ''The water is really steep now, and really dangerous.'' Mr Remmers, an American, is training young locals to swim and surf at Bang Tao beach, which is safer at this time of the year. At least one local resort advises guests not to swim at Surin beach between April and November.

An increasing number of board surfers on the island has also helped to make the water safer. But the Quiksilver series, which last year saw three well-organised surf carnivals at Kalim, Kamala and Kata, has not returned in 2010. The speedy departure of Quiksilver sponsorship has left the local surf community unprepared to organise a replacement series.

''Island surfers who want to compete are back where they were 15 years ago,'' Mr Remmers said.