Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Phuket's Mystery Man Now Has Name

Monday, June 25, 2012
PHUKET: Thanks to Phuketwan, the man who drowned at Nai Harn and whose identity was a mystery now has a name. And his family is on the way to Phuket.

Phuket friends of the man have confirmed that he was Danish citizen Rasmus Beyemann, 72, who had been living in retirement on Phuket for about five years.

Mr Beyemann was rescued from rough sea at Nai Harn, Phuket's most southern beach, on June 19. Although he was alive as lifeguards performed cpr techniques on the sand, he died on the way to hospital.

The mystery began when police could not identify him. He was wearing only a pair of check shorts and some gold jewellery.

If he had stayed unidentified, after 15 days he would have been buried in a pauper's grave on Phuket. His body is in Vachira Phuket Hospital.

This week, Phuketwan took the unprecedented step of publishing a selection of photos of the unknown man. As a result, friends of Mr Beyemann recognised him and contacted his family.

It's possible Mr Beyemann may have died from complications but his death will probably be recorded as a drowning on Phuket - the sixth in a month and a day.

The spate of drownings, the murder of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith, 60, on Wednesday and the high number of tourists who are killed or injured riding motorcycles are all likely to be discussed when Phuket's top administrators, police and tourism industry leaders meet in Phuket City in two days.

Drownings on Phuket May 18-June 19


June 19 An unidentified Western man aged about 60 drowns at Nai Harn as red flags fly. Two Chinese tourists, a man and a woman, are rescued. The dead man is later identified through Phuketwan as Dane Rasmus Beyemann.

June 12 Arizona State 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 red warning 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 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, Frenchman Angelo Piazza, 53, disappears into the surf at Karon beach, south of Patong, and drowns.

The figure of seven beach deaths on Phuket between May 18 and June 19 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.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

Thank you PW. Your publishing the photos was nothing to be ashamed of, it brought the mans family to him. RIP good fella. Condolences to the family and friends.

Posted by Dun on June 25, 2012 17:29

gravatar

That's great news. You got him back to his family. The Aussie slasher is down also. Good day for Phuket.

Now Phuketwan get us some good restaurant reviews, news about new entertainment avenues, some cool places to visit, because we will come back in 2 months for a while. Please Phuket do not drown, get killed, do accidents for a while...

Posted by Lena on June 25, 2012 19:12

gravatar

Well done PW for identifying this man;sad all these people die but bikes and the sea can be very dangerous if you do not not know what you are doing and maybe had a few beers;

Posted by Mal on June 29, 2012 11:19

gravatar

he was a lovely guy i loved him as my own father and he will be missed here he had many friends here from every around the world r.i.p gamlefar

Posted by chris on June 29, 2012 21:08

gravatar

Great news, well done Phuket Wan. Condolences to his family and friends.

Posted by Lee on June 30, 2012 15:22

gravatar

Now all the back slapping has been achieved - would there be any chance of removing the image of the dead man - purely out of respect.

Posted by arthur on July 5, 2012 08:29

Editor Comment:

There has been nothing disrespectful in our coverage, arthur. To imply our report was done for any reason other than to have this man's identity revealed is pitiful, especially on your first post.

gravatar

Job done then ed. Why keep the image up.

Posted by arthur on July 5, 2012 09:02

Editor Comment:

There are still readers online discovering the article for the first time. If we hadn't chosen to publish the photo, he would now be in an unmarked grave. It's an uplifting and unusual report - a good news story. And the photo? That's the most important part.


Thursday December 5, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter