AN Italian tourist has drowned at Patong beach, latest in a long series of needless deaths at Phuket beaches.
The spate of fatalities at Phuket's popular destinations this monsoon season now has some safety experts calling for beaches to be closed to swimmers.
One source says there have been 15 deaths at Patong beach this year.
Latest of the victims was named by police today as Antonio Salvatore Bucca, 46, who was swimming with two friends at Patong yesterday afternoon.
One of the men, Zanchetta Gianluca, 39, contacted a policeman about 5.20pm and told him his friend was drowning.
Police and volunteers searched the water but could find no sign of the missing man. A Navy rescue team also searched in vain.
The mishap took place on the beach opposite Patong Beach Resort in central Patong, not far from Loma Park.
Searchers continued to look for the man as darkness fell.
His body washed ashore at 9pm, the Superintendent of Kathu Police Station in Patong, Police Colonel Grissak Songmoonnark, told Phuketwan today.
The body was being kept at Patong Hospital until the man's family decide on a course of action.
Colonel Grissack said the three friends had recently arrived on a holiday that was to see them visit Phuket, Samui and Chiang Mai.
Patong beach was a favorite spot for the friends, the colonel said he had been told.
They'd planned one last swim yesterday evening before heading for Samui today.
Colonel Grissak said that red flags were flying at the beach, and lifeguards had advised the men not to swim.
Large new signs at Patong spell out the dangers of swimming at this time of the year, which is being promoted for the first time as ''Summer.''
Experts have made the point that rip currents make swimming at Patong, Karon, Kata, Surin and other popular spots potentially deadly between April and October.
Some are now saying that if the drownings continue, beaches may have to be closed to all swimmers on dangerous days.
More than 30 deaths by drowning have taken place in and around Phuket so far this year, but collated figures are imprecise and Public Health officials are unable to say which Phuket beaches are relatively safe and which are most dangerous.
A spokeswoman at the Italian Embassy said today that the dead man's family had been notified and they were awaiting a decision on whether his body would be repatriated.
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The spate of fatalities at Phuket's popular destinations this monsoon season now has some safety experts calling for beaches to be closed to swimmers.
One source says there have been 15 deaths at Patong beach this year.
Latest of the victims was named by police today as Antonio Salvatore Bucca, 46, who was swimming with two friends at Patong yesterday afternoon.
One of the men, Zanchetta Gianluca, 39, contacted a policeman about 5.20pm and told him his friend was drowning.
Police and volunteers searched the water but could find no sign of the missing man. A Navy rescue team also searched in vain.
The mishap took place on the beach opposite Patong Beach Resort in central Patong, not far from Loma Park.
Searchers continued to look for the man as darkness fell.
His body washed ashore at 9pm, the Superintendent of Kathu Police Station in Patong, Police Colonel Grissak Songmoonnark, told Phuketwan today.
The body was being kept at Patong Hospital until the man's family decide on a course of action.
Colonel Grissack said the three friends had recently arrived on a holiday that was to see them visit Phuket, Samui and Chiang Mai.
Patong beach was a favorite spot for the friends, the colonel said he had been told.
They'd planned one last swim yesterday evening before heading for Samui today.
Colonel Grissak said that red flags were flying at the beach, and lifeguards had advised the men not to swim.
Large new signs at Patong spell out the dangers of swimming at this time of the year, which is being promoted for the first time as ''Summer.''
Experts have made the point that rip currents make swimming at Patong, Karon, Kata, Surin and other popular spots potentially deadly between April and October.
Some are now saying that if the drownings continue, beaches may have to be closed to all swimmers on dangerous days.
More than 30 deaths by drowning have taken place in and around Phuket so far this year, but collated figures are imprecise and Public Health officials are unable to say which Phuket beaches are relatively safe and which are most dangerous.
A spokeswoman at the Italian Embassy said today that the dead man's family had been notified and they were awaiting a decision on whether his body would be repatriated.
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It is sad to hear of another drowning and condolences to his friends and family. However it has to be asked... why do certain people ignore warnings....the flags and personal advice once again totally ignored ???
Posted by Anonymous on August 12, 2009 09:29