UPDATE
The man who drowned at Patong beach is Peter John Cook, 47, a spokesperson at the British Embassy confirmed on Wednesday. His family has been notified.
Original Report
PHUKET: A British tourist drowned today at Patong beach near a spot where two other people - one American and one Chinese - have drowned in the past few weeks.
Today's drowning came before 8.30am, when Patong lifeguards usually start patrols.
The death of the British man today raised to eight the number of drownings on Phuket's west coast beaches since May 18.
Four of those deaths have occurred at Patong beach, three close to the intersection of Soi Chaloem Phrakiat and Thaweewong Road, the beach road.
The British man who drowned today is believed to have been staying at the same Patong three-star resort as American university student Joshua Shane, 21, who drowned on June 12.
His death was followed on June 30 by the drowning of Chinese tourist Tinqi Li, 19, near the same spot on Patong beach.
Phuketwan visited the spot on Patong beach on Saturday and could only find a red ''danger'' flag flying back from the water's edge, with swimmers in the water.
Patong beach, like neighboring Karon beach, develops what are known as rips - currents that strengthen during the May-October monsoon season and drag people out to sea.
A spokesperson at the three-star resort where the British man and the previous American victim were staying confirmed today that it was the second death among guests at the resort in the space of two months.
''It happened on the beach,'' the man said. ''It is outside of the resort and outside of our control.''
He was surprised to learn that there had been three drownings close to the same spot on Patong beach.
Although lifeguards have pleaded for all resorts to warn guests about the dangers on Phuket beaches, many resorts continue to ignore their pleas.
All three drownings near the spot on Patong beach have taken place outside lifeguard patrol hours - today's death in the early morning and the previous two drownings after sunset.
Phuket's lifeguards are overwhelmed by the number of tourists who choose to swim even when red warning flags are flying.
They say they need the help of resorts and authorities to make sure swimmers realise their lives are at risk.
One resort where guests are warned about swimming on the beaches suggests that guests are told on check-in: ''We've got a great swimming pool here. Please use it. Swim at the beach when the red flags are flying, and you'll die.''
The high number of drownings on Phuket is expected to be raised as an urgent topic when resort managements meet at Phuket Graceland Beach Resort and Spa on August 17 to discuss the safety and security of tourists on Phuket.
The body of the British man is at Patong Hospital.
Drownings on Phuket May 18-July 24
July 24 A British tourist drowns at Patong beach on an early morning swim, the third recent death near the same spot on Patong beach in the space of a few weeks.
June 30 Chinese tourist Tinqi Li, 19, drowns while swimming at night at Patong. A jet-ski rider finds him and pulls him back to shore but cpr fails to revive him.
June 19 Unidentified Western man drowns at Nai Harn as red flags fly. Two Chinese tourists, a man and a woman, are rescued. The man is later identified as Rasmus Beyemann, 72, a Dane who had been living on Phuket for five years.
June 12 American university student Joshua Shane, 21, goes missing at Patong on a late-night swim with friends. His body is found on June 14. Another swimmer requires hospital treatment.
June 8 A tourist from Egypt and a tourist from Kuwait, visiting Phuket, go on a whitewater adventure tour north of Phuket with friends. The friends are rescued when a monsoon-boosted stream overturns their raft. The two men drown.
June 2 A young Thai visitor from Bangkok, Austatiwood Prommarat, 18, disappears into the surf at Patong after he and a relative allegedly hang their shirts on a warning red flag before going into the water. The relative is rescued.
May 31 An American kite surfer collapses in the shallows at Nai Harn, Phuket's most southerly beach, and dies soon after. His death may not have been a drowning but possibly a heart attack.
May 30 Russian tourist Denis Korobogatov, 33, appears to be caught by a ''rip'' tide at Karon beach and is dragged to his death.
May 27 Phuket's lifeguards, absent from Phuket beaches for seven weeks because of a contractual dispute, return to daily patrols of Phuket's 13 most popular west coast beaches.
May 20 On a day's outing to difficult-to-access Freedom Beach, between Patong and Karon, Frenchman Stephane Dacosta, 32, disappears into the water. He washes ashore at nearby Kata beach a day later.
May 18 With lifeguards absent from all of Phuket's beaches, Angelo Piazza, 53, disappears into the surf at Karon beach, south of Patong, and drowns.
The figure of eight beach drownings on Phuket between May 18 and July 24 contrasts with just five drownings recorded for the whole of Phuket - including deaths in ponds and canals as well as beaches - in the first four months of the year.
So the hotel where Joshua Shane was staying AGAIN has failed in its duty to warn tourists staying there, following the death of another one of it guests, yesterday, 24 July 2012.
Warn people hotel staff please, your jobs and salaries are on the line here. No tourists means no work and no pay for you.
Posted by Dun on July 25, 2012 07:14
Editor Comment:
Some resorts continue to entice tourists to Phuket for beach holidays between May and October, yet see their duty of care ending at the front door. Drownings will continue to occur in frightening numbers as long as these resorts maintain this attitude.