PHUKET: The day after witnessing a tourist die on a Phuket beach, Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos said that all resorts on the holiday island should become involved in ending drownings on Phuket.
''It was an experience I do not want to have again,'' the mayor said. He stood on Nai Harn beach as lifeguards and other swimmers fought unsuccessfully to apply cpr and mouth-to-mouth to save the life of German visitor Frank Retsh, 34.
''We must do whatever we can to stop this from being repeated.''
The mayor said he would talk to Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong at the earliest possible opportunity about implementing multiple warnings, with Phuket's resorts involved.
The need for visitors to the year-round beach destination to be warned before they get to the beach has been proposed by safety experts and supported by Phuketwan.
Tourists who are enticed to Phuket in the belief that the island is a year-round swimming destination deserve to be warned as many times as possible, in different ways, before making a mistake that could cost them their lives.
Safety experts suggest a video on descending aircraft, an sms on arrival, and a direct warning on check-in as simple, effective ways that all resorts could help to save lives.
People should be informed by signage in resort foyers whether the nearby beach is safe on a day-to-day basis. Once they decide to go to the beach, it's often too late.
Several of Phuket's prime west coast beaches are too long for lifeguards to patrol.
''Red flags are not going to deter people who are determined to swim,'' a lifeguard said today. ''If the resorts join in warning their guests, there's no doubt that more lives will be saved.''
Mayor Aroon rushed to the beach with rescue workers from the Rawai council offices not far away as soon as he heard what had happened at Nai Harn.
Mr Retsh's body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City.
*Phuketwan reporter Chutima Sidasathian has accepted an invitation from the World Health Organisation to attend a seminar on drowning in Bangkok on Friday in advance of next month's release of the first global report by WHO on drowning.
''It was an experience I do not want to have again,'' the mayor said. He stood on Nai Harn beach as lifeguards and other swimmers fought unsuccessfully to apply cpr and mouth-to-mouth to save the life of German visitor Frank Retsh, 34.
''We must do whatever we can to stop this from being repeated.''
The mayor said he would talk to Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong at the earliest possible opportunity about implementing multiple warnings, with Phuket's resorts involved.
The need for visitors to the year-round beach destination to be warned before they get to the beach has been proposed by safety experts and supported by Phuketwan.
Tourists who are enticed to Phuket in the belief that the island is a year-round swimming destination deserve to be warned as many times as possible, in different ways, before making a mistake that could cost them their lives.
Safety experts suggest a video on descending aircraft, an sms on arrival, and a direct warning on check-in as simple, effective ways that all resorts could help to save lives.
People should be informed by signage in resort foyers whether the nearby beach is safe on a day-to-day basis. Once they decide to go to the beach, it's often too late.
Several of Phuket's prime west coast beaches are too long for lifeguards to patrol.
''Red flags are not going to deter people who are determined to swim,'' a lifeguard said today. ''If the resorts join in warning their guests, there's no doubt that more lives will be saved.''
Mayor Aroon rushed to the beach with rescue workers from the Rawai council offices not far away as soon as he heard what had happened at Nai Harn.
Mr Retsh's body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City.
*Phuketwan reporter Chutima Sidasathian has accepted an invitation from the World Health Organisation to attend a seminar on drowning in Bangkok on Friday in advance of next month's release of the first global report by WHO on drowning.
surely the mayor and councilors can pass a local ordinance forcing hotels to advertise this fact in foyers if not a enforceable law the resorts opinion will be we don't give warnings and the lifeguards don't rent hotel rooms.
Posted by slickmelb on October 9, 2014 17:33