PHUKET drowning figures have improved dramatically with just 24 deaths recorded to the end of September, compared to 47 at the same time last year.
Newly-released statistics also reveal today that one drowning was recorded in September 2010 compared to five last year.
However, the death of a Russian tourist at Surin beach yesterday highlighted unresolved issues including slow reaction times, lack of suitable equipment, and lack of warnings that go beyond English and Thai.
Russians appear to be particularly at risk - or especially prepared to take risks - at this time of year.
The ambulance called to attend to the tourist who died at Surin beach took more than 20 minutes to arrive, bystanders told Phuketwan. This is not surprising as the vehicle had to travel from Thalang Hospital, about six kilometres away.
One resort manager said today that while Surin is surrounded by five-star resorts and expensive properties, its beach safety efforts fall below the standards that international tourists have come expect.
''The support of the local government is nowhere to be seen,'' the resort manager said. ''Phuket's tourism industry lives and dies by the quality of care of visitors and the condition of its beaches.
''Foremost is safety, next is cleanliness. The local government takes, but does not contribute.''
Lifeguard training and transparency have improved but reaction times remain variable because of lack of sufficient numbers and lack of quality equipment.
Surin has an allocation of five lifeguards, with about 600 metres of beach to oversee. A lifeguard spokesperson said today that they were quickly on the scene, coming from 300 metres away, after tourists had seen the lifeless body of the man in the water and reached him.
The man was reportedly last seen standing chest-deep, and at age 55 may have been the victim of a heart attack. However, the death of the Russian tourist raised the issue of warnings to people who do not speak English or Thai.
Lifeguards also pulled two Russians and two Germans from the water at Nai Harn yesterday, along with two Russians who were rescued at Karon beach.
Two more Russians had to be rescued at Nai Thon beach the day before, the lifeguard spokesperson said.
A second lifeguard spokesperson said the group of Russians who came to Phuket with the dead man had been warned two days in a row about the dangers at Surin, but persisted in going into the water despite the red flags.
People who run businesses on the sand at Surin sometimes also shifted the red flags, the lifeguard spokesperson said.
Another manager of a resort close to Surin beach said that despite the commercialisation of the beach and its coverage with other flags and banners, red flags there were usually plentiful and easy to see.
A spokesperson at the Russian Embassy in Bangkok said today that efforts were being made to contact the family of the man who died at Surin.
Phuket Merit-Maker Mowed Down by PickupNewly-released statistics also reveal today that one drowning was recorded in September 2010 compared to five last year.
However, the death of a Russian tourist at Surin beach yesterday highlighted unresolved issues including slow reaction times, lack of suitable equipment, and lack of warnings that go beyond English and Thai.
Russians appear to be particularly at risk - or especially prepared to take risks - at this time of year.
The ambulance called to attend to the tourist who died at Surin beach took more than 20 minutes to arrive, bystanders told Phuketwan. This is not surprising as the vehicle had to travel from Thalang Hospital, about six kilometres away.
One resort manager said today that while Surin is surrounded by five-star resorts and expensive properties, its beach safety efforts fall below the standards that international tourists have come expect.
''The support of the local government is nowhere to be seen,'' the resort manager said. ''Phuket's tourism industry lives and dies by the quality of care of visitors and the condition of its beaches.
''Foremost is safety, next is cleanliness. The local government takes, but does not contribute.''
Lifeguard training and transparency have improved but reaction times remain variable because of lack of sufficient numbers and lack of quality equipment.
Surin has an allocation of five lifeguards, with about 600 metres of beach to oversee. A lifeguard spokesperson said today that they were quickly on the scene, coming from 300 metres away, after tourists had seen the lifeless body of the man in the water and reached him.
The man was reportedly last seen standing chest-deep, and at age 55 may have been the victim of a heart attack. However, the death of the Russian tourist raised the issue of warnings to people who do not speak English or Thai.
Lifeguards also pulled two Russians and two Germans from the water at Nai Harn yesterday, along with two Russians who were rescued at Karon beach.
Two more Russians had to be rescued at Nai Thon beach the day before, the lifeguard spokesperson said.
A second lifeguard spokesperson said the group of Russians who came to Phuket with the dead man had been warned two days in a row about the dangers at Surin, but persisted in going into the water despite the red flags.
People who run businesses on the sand at Surin sometimes also shifted the red flags, the lifeguard spokesperson said.
Another manager of a resort close to Surin beach said that despite the commercialisation of the beach and its coverage with other flags and banners, red flags there were usually plentiful and easy to see.
A spokesperson at the Russian Embassy in Bangkok said today that efforts were being made to contact the family of the man who died at Surin.
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"People who run businesses on the sand at Surin sometimes also shifted the red flags, the lifeguard spokesperson said."
In many places this is considered a criminal act. Should someone die as result of this act, then the perpetrator might face a much more serious manslaughter charge.
Posted by Treelover on October 18, 2010 15:34