PHUKET: Savage high seas overnight left a Phuket lifeguard tower about to collapse onto Surin beach today.

The lifeguards had no choice except to begin dismantling the tower.

''We are without a place to store our equipment now,'' said Sayan Bureerak.

''Because our tower can no longer be used, we will have to carry equipment to and from the tower at Bang Tao beach each day.''

The lifeguards had hoped the local council or the Royal Thai Navy might come to their aid and save the rickety old tower. But their plea through came too late.

Phuket's Lifeguard Service - the most vital part of island beach safety - is often struggling for essential equipment even though the team saves hundreds of lives each year.

The collapse of the tower came just before a visit to Phuket's beaches by one of the most powerful of Thailand's military rulers, the Commander-in-Chief of The Royal Thai Navy, Admiral Narong Pipatanasai.

The admiral is expected to visit Surin and several other Phuket beaches during a two-day visit beginning tomorrow that will be focused on examining the clearances of loungers and umbrellas, a visit to the Phuket City garbage dump where Phuket has to store hundreds of tonnes of rubbish it cannot dispose of each day, and Sirinath National Park.

The admiral is expected to take a helicopter ride tomorrow to gain an overall impression of Phuket from the air.

Military officers say they intend to deal with Phuket's problems and ensure enforcement is no longer an issue.

A community water safety group, saferphuket.org, is aiming to help Phuket's lifeguards find corporate sponsorship and improved backing from local authorities.