UPDATE
One of two tourists who drowned at Karon beach today has been named as Erik Larsin, 58, from Denmark. Relatives have been notified. The other man who drowned is a Russian, aged about 40. A third tourist, German Gisbert Mergler, 49, was treated in intensive care at Phuket International Hospital after being rescued at neighboring Kata, and has been discharged.
Original Report
TWO tourists, one from Russia and one from Sweden, are reported to have drowned today at Karon, the long stretch of sand that now has the deserved reputation of being Phuket's ''Beach of Death.''
Phuket Lifeguard sources said that both deaths were male, one from Sweden and the other from Russia. Red ''no swim'' flags were flying, the lifeguard said.
The first drowning came at 11am on the beach in front of the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, a Karon beach lifeguard told Phuketwan. The second drowning followed about 2pm a little further down the beach, near the Golden Dragon statue, the lifeguard said.
Sources said that in one of the cases, the man was rescued from the surf, and given cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on the beach. The man stood up, said he was feeling better, then fell over.
He was taken to Patong Hospital, where the bodies of both tourists are now. The Swedish man is believed to have been holidaying on Phuket with his family. Police are still in quest of someone who may know the Russian man.
Phuketwan is seeking updated information and hopes to confirm the nationalities and names of the two drowned men shortly.
In two rescues today at other beaches, one Western tourist was pulled from the sea at Kata and sent to Patong Hospital, while another expat male was allowed to go after being given oxygen at Patong.
Karon beach, two years ago at No. 4 on the Lonely Planet list of ''The Best Family Beaches in the World,'' now has an unenviable reputation for all-too-frequent drownings - and all year long, not just in the extra-dangerous monsoon season.
Figures of the number of drownings on Phuket in 2010 are due for release any day now, and the annual total is expected to show a substantial reduction on the previous year.
However, the tally of deaths at Karon is unacceptably high, probably exceeding double figures.
To start 2011 in January - the calm and safer high season - with two deaths means that Karon beach should probably be closed to all swimmers until the local authorities produce a comprehensive plan to prevent further deaths.
Strangely, many of the deaths from drowning at Karon beach have been omitted from an official police list of all the deaths of expats on Phuket, submitted every three months when Phuket honorary consuls meet the Phuket Governor.
Unusual weather patterns across the region from Sri Lanka to Australia are believed to have created conditions in which deadly monsoonal ''rips'' continue despite the onset of the usually tranquil December-April high season on Phuket.
The Year That Was 2010 Drinkers who drive are in trouble. When it comes to safety on the roads and in the water, the year so far has produced improvements. But there's more to be done.
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Latest A list that is supposed to include all expat deaths on Phuket for the year so far actually fails to include at least six expat deaths, four of them drownings at Karon and Kata beaches.
Six Phuket Expat Drownings, Deaths, Unrecorded
Phuket Death Mystery of Body on Karon Beach
News Update The body of a man found on Phuket's Karon beach has been identified as an elderly Norwegian tourist. Police believe he collapsed while walking along the shore.
Phuket Death Mystery of Body on Karon Beach
Russian Woman Drowns at Phuket's Deadly Beach
UPDATE Another Russian holidaymaker swims to her death at Phuket's notorious Karon beach, where drownings continue to create the impression that Phuket is far from ideal for a beach holiday.
Russian Woman Drowns at Phuket's Deadly Beach
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Phuketwan Opinion Everyone connected to Phuket's tourism industry needs to join in protecting tourists from drowning while on holiday at a world's best beach island destination.
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Phuket 'Death Beach' Claims Two More in a Day
Latest Phuket's notorious Karon beach becomes a horror stretch again as two people, one a tourist and one a Thai, drown in separate incidents. Calls for the beach to close must now be heeded.
Phuket 'Death Beach' Claims Two More in a Day
exceeding double figures? That's 100+!
Posted by stuart on January 14, 2011 17:59