PHUKET: A Norwegian man, two Germans and a Russian have died on Phuket in recent days, adding to the toll of expats and tourists who perish in paradise.
Death takes no holiday, the latest statistics reveal - although sometimes, deaths can be quiet and far too secretive.
With the latest statistics, provided by Phuket's police, Phuketwan learned three months too late of the deaths Korean pedestrians Kim Doryeong and Lee Dongyun.
They were killed in unreported circumstances in November. A third Korean, Choi Yon Ho, died in a crash at Kathu's wakeboard park just 10 days later.
International standards require complete transparency with unexpected deaths so it's sad that tourists die without the Phuket media being informed.
The Norwegian man was found dead on his bed in a Patong apartment yesterday morning by a maid. He was 62 and had an oxygen mask on his face so investigators have concluded he probably died of a preexisting condition.
The previous afternoon, a 70-year-old German man died naked in a short-time motel room in Phuket City. Police have concluded he may have overdosed on generic sex drugs then suffered a heart attack during or soon after a love-making session.
Outdoor activities also take their toll. German Georg Erwin Bach, 64, crashed an ultralight equipped with pontoons into the sea off Phuket's east coast on Wednesday and either died from a heart attack, the impact of the plunge or from drowning.
The next day, Russian world swimfin champion Vladimir Karmazin died at the age of 58, not in the sea he loved but peacefully in his own bed at home in southern Phuket.
What should be said with the basics of democracy being discussed so openly in Bangkok is that all deaths of residents and expats and especially tourists should be openly reported in Thailand - if it's a genuine democracy.
Officials from Phuket's Public Health department have been spotted among anti-corruption protesters on Phuket and yet the release of drowning and road toll statistical updates, which once occurred every month - as it should in any proper democracy - ceased abruptly in April, 2012.
Fortunately Phuketwan's own spasmodic compilations reveal more than 35 deaths at Phuket's famous beaches and on day-trip outings in 2013. That's an unacceptable number for any destination that claims to be a year-round beach and snorkelling destination.
The road toll, from what we hear, could even be improving slightly, which is all the more reason to conform to international standards of disclosure. All deaths of residents and tourists - from whatever causes - should be fully reported. That's one important aspect of democracy where Phuket protesters could prove their own honest intent.
It's refreshing, given the reticence of some other authorities, that Phuket Police Headquarters still compiles a list of expat and tourist deaths. There is no sense that it's comprehensive.
But at least we now know that two Koreans were killed in a pedestrian crash in November and a third Korean died 10 days later at the Phuket Wake Park.
The police list reports 110 deaths among non-Thai passport holders in 2013, with just one murder for the whole year - that of a Chinese tourist in November. His killer, also a Chinese tourist, jumped from a balcony and died the following day.
Those who believe crimes of violence are frequent on Phuket should bear in mind that statistic. And once again, it's worth noting that as in past years, the greatest criminal danger to the life of expats and tourists comes from other expats and tourists.
The danger to tourists and to Phuket's reputation lies in the alarming statistics for drownings, and that reflects poorly on the whole Phuket community, particularly those resorts where guests have drowned. What that means in most cases is that insufficient warnings were given to those victims.
In the incomplete police list there were 47 deaths from personal illness, 19 deaths in ''accidents,'' five suicides and an alarming 32 drownings. That's the number that needs to be reduced dramatically.
Paul Norris British 46 January 12 Vichit motorcycle crash
Mariwan Qader Salim Iraq 27 January 13 Naka island drowning
Peter Richard Hoffman German 77 January 19 Patong fall at home
Daniel Burkhard Swiss 72 January 23 Patong personal illness
Adin Medzic Australia 47 January 30 Patong fall on steps
Waladimia Soballdeeyork Russia 29 August 17 Chalong hanging suicide
Etjhan jade Lascelles Williams British 14 August 18 Patong Cashew nut
Graeme James Philip British 45 August 23 Kathu personal illness
James Condon Jerred Australia 61 August 24 Rawai personal illness
Nari Sadarangani Canada 76 August 31 Patong personal illness
Mrs Tracey Ann Walton Australia 51 September 1 Patong personal illness
Brodie Myers Australia 34 September 8 Patong fall in bathroom
JimmyChan Kai Hong Kong 33 September 8 Patong hill motorcycle crash
Schol Tyssex David Ruddle Sweden 44 September 8 Kamala personal illness
Donald Gordon Louis New Zealand 81 September 12 Karon personal illness
Alexey Tysbalyuk Russia 46 September 17 Patong drowning
Carlo De Roja Austria 60 September 18 Kamala no cause given
Mrs Jacquelline Susan Prior British 51 September 24 Karon personal illness
Denis Lipatov Russia 37 September 28 Racha drowning
Sheng Caoliang China 31 September 30 Kata drowning
Huiseng Lin China 30 October 1 racha drowning
Yury Kiryukhin Russia 36 October 12 Karon personal illness
Ilya Vitovtov Russia 27 October 15 Karon motorcycle crash
Oleg Ozerskikh Russia 52 October 24 Karon drowning
Haifcng Liu China 33 October 24 Karon drowning
Alexander Dekhand Russia 38 October 30 Patong drowning in hotel
Mrs Marrine Elenor Jagee Sweden 58 November 2 Karon fall in bathroom
Marshall William British 55 November 3 Cherng Talay personal illness
Kim Doryeong Korea 32 November 5 Vichit car crash
Lee Dongyun Korea 31 November 5 Vichit car crash
Sergey Taruraev Russia 38 November 7 Cherng Talay personal illness
Paul Simon Windler British 49 November 10 Rawai personal illness
Choi Yon Ho Korea 41 November 15 Kathu splashboard fall
Bennewitz Klaus Dieter Hermann German 76 Patong November 17 Patong drowning
Phillip Thomas Schoneok Swiss 43 November 19 Rawai personal illness
Gao Yang China 20 November 20 Cape Promthep fell and drowned
Li Ming China 41 November 25 Rassada murder
Mrs Jiang Chengyue China 42 November 26 Rassada suicide
Paul Anthony Dark British 80 December 5 Rawai natural causes
Per Torben Lindgren Sweden 58 December 11 suicide
Vladimir Petrunev Russia 70 December 15 Kathu personal illness
Im Soojung Korea 44 December 15 Vichit suicide
Jorg Manfred German 44 December 18 Patong drowning
Michael Frederiksen Denmark 56 December 25 Karon personal illness
Pavel Khristict Russia 29 December 26 Tung Thong motorcycle crash
Death takes no holiday, the latest statistics reveal - although sometimes, deaths can be quiet and far too secretive.
With the latest statistics, provided by Phuket's police, Phuketwan learned three months too late of the deaths Korean pedestrians Kim Doryeong and Lee Dongyun.
They were killed in unreported circumstances in November. A third Korean, Choi Yon Ho, died in a crash at Kathu's wakeboard park just 10 days later.
International standards require complete transparency with unexpected deaths so it's sad that tourists die without the Phuket media being informed.
The Norwegian man was found dead on his bed in a Patong apartment yesterday morning by a maid. He was 62 and had an oxygen mask on his face so investigators have concluded he probably died of a preexisting condition.
The previous afternoon, a 70-year-old German man died naked in a short-time motel room in Phuket City. Police have concluded he may have overdosed on generic sex drugs then suffered a heart attack during or soon after a love-making session.
Outdoor activities also take their toll. German Georg Erwin Bach, 64, crashed an ultralight equipped with pontoons into the sea off Phuket's east coast on Wednesday and either died from a heart attack, the impact of the plunge or from drowning.
The next day, Russian world swimfin champion Vladimir Karmazin died at the age of 58, not in the sea he loved but peacefully in his own bed at home in southern Phuket.
What should be said with the basics of democracy being discussed so openly in Bangkok is that all deaths of residents and expats and especially tourists should be openly reported in Thailand - if it's a genuine democracy.
Officials from Phuket's Public Health department have been spotted among anti-corruption protesters on Phuket and yet the release of drowning and road toll statistical updates, which once occurred every month - as it should in any proper democracy - ceased abruptly in April, 2012.
Fortunately Phuketwan's own spasmodic compilations reveal more than 35 deaths at Phuket's famous beaches and on day-trip outings in 2013. That's an unacceptable number for any destination that claims to be a year-round beach and snorkelling destination.
The road toll, from what we hear, could even be improving slightly, which is all the more reason to conform to international standards of disclosure. All deaths of residents and tourists - from whatever causes - should be fully reported. That's one important aspect of democracy where Phuket protesters could prove their own honest intent.
It's refreshing, given the reticence of some other authorities, that Phuket Police Headquarters still compiles a list of expat and tourist deaths. There is no sense that it's comprehensive.
But at least we now know that two Koreans were killed in a pedestrian crash in November and a third Korean died 10 days later at the Phuket Wake Park.
The police list reports 110 deaths among non-Thai passport holders in 2013, with just one murder for the whole year - that of a Chinese tourist in November. His killer, also a Chinese tourist, jumped from a balcony and died the following day.
Those who believe crimes of violence are frequent on Phuket should bear in mind that statistic. And once again, it's worth noting that as in past years, the greatest criminal danger to the life of expats and tourists comes from other expats and tourists.
The danger to tourists and to Phuket's reputation lies in the alarming statistics for drownings, and that reflects poorly on the whole Phuket community, particularly those resorts where guests have drowned. What that means in most cases is that insufficient warnings were given to those victims.
In the incomplete police list there were 47 deaths from personal illness, 19 deaths in ''accidents,'' five suicides and an alarming 32 drownings. That's the number that needs to be reduced dramatically.
Expat and Tourist Deaths So Far in 2014
Paul Norris British 46 January 12 Vichit motorcycle crash
Mariwan Qader Salim Iraq 27 January 13 Naka island drowning
Peter Richard Hoffman German 77 January 19 Patong fall at home
Daniel Burkhard Swiss 72 January 23 Patong personal illness
Adin Medzic Australia 47 January 30 Patong fall on steps
Expat and Tourist Deaths August-December 2013
Waladimia Soballdeeyork Russia 29 August 17 Chalong hanging suicide
Etjhan jade Lascelles Williams British 14 August 18 Patong Cashew nut
Graeme James Philip British 45 August 23 Kathu personal illness
James Condon Jerred Australia 61 August 24 Rawai personal illness
Nari Sadarangani Canada 76 August 31 Patong personal illness
Mrs Tracey Ann Walton Australia 51 September 1 Patong personal illness
Brodie Myers Australia 34 September 8 Patong fall in bathroom
JimmyChan Kai Hong Kong 33 September 8 Patong hill motorcycle crash
Schol Tyssex David Ruddle Sweden 44 September 8 Kamala personal illness
Donald Gordon Louis New Zealand 81 September 12 Karon personal illness
Alexey Tysbalyuk Russia 46 September 17 Patong drowning
Carlo De Roja Austria 60 September 18 Kamala no cause given
Mrs Jacquelline Susan Prior British 51 September 24 Karon personal illness
Denis Lipatov Russia 37 September 28 Racha drowning
Sheng Caoliang China 31 September 30 Kata drowning
Huiseng Lin China 30 October 1 racha drowning
Yury Kiryukhin Russia 36 October 12 Karon personal illness
Ilya Vitovtov Russia 27 October 15 Karon motorcycle crash
Oleg Ozerskikh Russia 52 October 24 Karon drowning
Haifcng Liu China 33 October 24 Karon drowning
Alexander Dekhand Russia 38 October 30 Patong drowning in hotel
Mrs Marrine Elenor Jagee Sweden 58 November 2 Karon fall in bathroom
Marshall William British 55 November 3 Cherng Talay personal illness
Kim Doryeong Korea 32 November 5 Vichit car crash
Lee Dongyun Korea 31 November 5 Vichit car crash
Sergey Taruraev Russia 38 November 7 Cherng Talay personal illness
Paul Simon Windler British 49 November 10 Rawai personal illness
Choi Yon Ho Korea 41 November 15 Kathu splashboard fall
Bennewitz Klaus Dieter Hermann German 76 Patong November 17 Patong drowning
Phillip Thomas Schoneok Swiss 43 November 19 Rawai personal illness
Gao Yang China 20 November 20 Cape Promthep fell and drowned
Li Ming China 41 November 25 Rassada murder
Mrs Jiang Chengyue China 42 November 26 Rassada suicide
Paul Anthony Dark British 80 December 5 Rawai natural causes
Per Torben Lindgren Sweden 58 December 11 suicide
Vladimir Petrunev Russia 70 December 15 Kathu personal illness
Im Soojung Korea 44 December 15 Vichit suicide
Jorg Manfred German 44 December 18 Patong drowning
Michael Frederiksen Denmark 56 December 25 Karon personal illness
Pavel Khristict Russia 29 December 26 Tung Thong motorcycle crash
Nothing to do with deaths merely the non reporting by the authorities of problems.
Last week for instance a dive boat left Chalong, caught fire 40 miles out (5 hours out) and sank.
Never heard that news released either.
Perhaps it is a new tactic, we won't tell anyone then there is no problem !
Posted by Sailor sam on February 9, 2014 13:57
Editor Comment:
The new tactic is the same same as the old tactic.