PHUKET: The death of a Korean while swimming off Phi Phi on a day trip from Phuket yesterday is likely to raise fresh safety concerns.
Other swimmers at Phi Phi's Mai beach found Kim Jung-Ku, 29, floating face down about 12.20pm.
He was carried to the nearby Phi Phi Hospital, but there was no sign of a pulse despite efforts to revive him.
Mr Kim was in a party of 40 Koreans staying at Patong on Phuket, and due to head home today.
His body was taken back to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City where a medical examination will be undertaken to determine what might have caused his death.
Two Chinese women died on snorkelling day-trips off Phuket in August, prompting a Chinese envoy to call for urgent action to upgrade standards.
Although snorkelling with a flotation jacket is generally considered to be safe, speedboat crew seldom do more than issue the equipment and count the number of tourists who return to the vessel.
Swimming alone also poses danger if something goes wrong. Mr Kim was believed to have been alone in the water during a ''free hour'' yesterday.
A third Chinese woman, Jin Giuping, 29, had a fortunate escape in July.
Husband Zhen Shuguang noticed his wife floating face down on the snorkelling outing near Racha island, off Phuket, on July 7 and alerted others.
Initially in a coma, Jin Giuping recovered in Vachira Phuket and flew home three weeks later.
Other swimmers at Phi Phi's Mai beach found Kim Jung-Ku, 29, floating face down about 12.20pm.
He was carried to the nearby Phi Phi Hospital, but there was no sign of a pulse despite efforts to revive him.
Mr Kim was in a party of 40 Koreans staying at Patong on Phuket, and due to head home today.
His body was taken back to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City where a medical examination will be undertaken to determine what might have caused his death.
Two Chinese women died on snorkelling day-trips off Phuket in August, prompting a Chinese envoy to call for urgent action to upgrade standards.
Although snorkelling with a flotation jacket is generally considered to be safe, speedboat crew seldom do more than issue the equipment and count the number of tourists who return to the vessel.
Swimming alone also poses danger if something goes wrong. Mr Kim was believed to have been alone in the water during a ''free hour'' yesterday.
A third Chinese woman, Jin Giuping, 29, had a fortunate escape in July.
Husband Zhen Shuguang noticed his wife floating face down on the snorkelling outing near Racha island, off Phuket, on July 7 and alerted others.
Initially in a coma, Jin Giuping recovered in Vachira Phuket and flew home three weeks later.
