A RUSSIAN man is believed to have become Phuket's latest drowning victim yesterday.

The fatal mishap took place on Koh He, also known as Coral Island, which was part of another expat tragedy just days earlier when a small catamaran overturned, leading to the death of British sailor Kevin Corrigan.

The Russian man, who was staying at the Boat Lagoon on Phuket, was rushed back to Phuket by speedboat then placed in an ambulance. But he died before reaching hospital.

It is common for drowning victims to be pulled from the water but die within minutes or hours unless proper cpr is performed.

Details of the precise circumstances have yet to be revealed, but Phuketwan was told by Police Lieutenant Chana Sutimas, of Chalong police station, that the man was a drowning victim.

His death came at 12.45pm yesterday. The man's name was given as Ivan Zolotughin, and his body is now at Vachira Hospital awaiting the arrival of relatives.

Both deaths appear to add to Phuket's toll of drownings this year, which has increased out of proportion to the road toll.

While local authorities have made great strides in reducing deaths on the roads, the same effort has yet to be made with safety on and in the water.

All of Phuket's popular beaches western are currently without lifeguards because a proper professional service has yet to be established.