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UPDATE Phuket Tourist Drowns at Patong Beach: Safe Zones Not Always Clear
By Phuketwan Reporter Saturday, July 4, 2015
THE MAN pulled from the surf at Patong succumbed to the water in his lungs about 11pm on Saturday at Vachira Hospital Phuket in Phuket City. The spot directly opposite Bangla Road where he went swimming is a jet-ski zone.
PHUKET: Doctors were fighting to save the life of a tourist believed to be from the Middle East who almost drowned on Phuket's most popular beach, Patong, this evening.
The man, aged about 30, was pulled out about 50 metres by a current and then, when he got into difficulties, fetched to shore by a lifeguard on a jet-ski.
Despite the application of cpr, the man was barely alive when an ambulance arrived after about 15 minutes, according to a lifeguard.
With dangerous monsoon surf swirling along Patong and all west coast beaches, lifeguards late today were trying to urge swimmers to leave the water with the onset of dusk when the man went swimming about 6.30pm.
''We have put more red flags along the beach than ever before,'' a lifeguard told Phuketwan. ''We are very sad that this life and death incident took place.''
Beaches on Phuket become dangerous when monsoon storms boost surf and currents.
The lifeguards were waiting at Patong Hospital for an update on the man's condition. This evening he was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City.
Patong beach is confusing for many visitors because it has been divided into sections to allow jet-ski operators to have easy access to customers, despite a contentious ban on commercial activity on the sand.
Visitors who think Patong is still a swimming beach have been known to enter the water in jet-ski zones. The only protection for them is provided between the red and yellow flags that designate a lifeguard-protected zone.
Tourists from places without beaches and surf often fail to understand the importance of their own safety and think that the pounding surf is just what they've seen in the brochures, therefore it must be safe.
Updates on the number of beach drownings, once provided regularly by Public Health authorities, ceased about 2012.
The Middle East man was taken to Patong Hospital then transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City.
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Comments
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Can anyone tell me where are lifeguards tower or at least nest is located at North Patong? And how lifeguards looks like this year? I.e. if there is a need to call for one, how one can figure out location of a lifeguard and recognize him?
Posted by
Sue
on
July 4, 2015 21:33
What safe zones? Since the monsoon winds started up 3 days ago, no zone is safe. And no zone is safe after dusk. Why do you harp on jet skis (which haven't been offered for rental since the monsoon winds started anyway). The are entirely irrelevant to this unfortunate incident.
Posted by
Ken Freed
on
July 4, 2015 21:43
Editor Comment:
A jet-ski was used to bring the man in. The beach at Patong has zones for jet-skis and the area directly opposite Soi Bangla, where this man went into the water, is a designated jet-ski zone. The ''safe'' zones are those in between where the red and yellow lifeguards flags fly, indicating a patrolled area. Regrettably, tourists are not warned of the dangers or of the need to swim between the flags. This was not an ''unfortunate incident.'' It was a needless death. Warning signs at Phuket international Airport are placed in an obscure position when the message should be front and centre at this time of year. I noticed that the largest billboard at the airport t-junction is vacant. That would be an appropriate place for a safety warning. However, the Phuket authorities say they cannot afford the 30,000 baht per month cost of lifeguards at Racha island, where Chinese tourists drown all too often. The prospect of a little more money being spent to save tourists' lives seems remote.
Ken is wrong. Even under the worst of conditions the infernal jet-skis are for rent and idiots do hire them. I saw them out on the water Saturday afternoon in very windy conditions. It doesn't seem that anyone involved with the things, either renters or users, has a lick of sense.
Posted by
Day
on
July 5, 2015 07:24
Almost drowned and doctors are fighting to save his life, but at the same time his body is at Patong Hospital. A bit confusing.
Is the man dead or alive please?
Posted by
stevenl
on
July 5, 2015 08:46
Editor Comment:
Many Thais believe ''drowning'' to not necessarily be fatal, which sometimes causes confusion in speedy updating reports. Sadly, the tourist has now succumbed to the water in his lungs.
I noticed the 15 minute response time before the patient was transported. This is far too long. Patong is one of the most popular beaches on Phuket. There should be an ambulance and properly trained paramedics stationed at the beach during peak use times. This is what occurs at the busy beaches in China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Why not Thailand?
As for Ken Freed's comment, the jet skis were there. I suggest he go and see for himself. They are always visible at both ends of the beach.
Posted by
Ryan
on
July 5, 2015 20:19
Ryan,
sorry, but you exhibited such a naivety as Singaporeans on Patong wondering why there is no heli medevac to Vachira/Bangkok hospitals available
Posted by
Sue
on
July 6, 2015 04:55
UN-cleverness of erh, someone's decision, to designate the coastal area, that is a primary first access point to the sea to majority of beachgoers is astounding, even taking in consideration greed that moved marketing of jet-skis to that spot.
Karma Mai Dee, definitely.
Posted by
Sue
on
July 6, 2015 04:58
Yes Ed, it was a needless and very regrettable death, but people need to show more responsibility for themselves. It is unreasonable for people to behave in a reckless manner, defying all of the warnings they receive and see, and abandoning their common sense and expect to be saved by others should they come into difficulties 24/7
The life guards do a very good job saving many lives but there is a limit and they cannot be expected to 100% successful
Posted by
Paul
on
July 6, 2015 07:27
Editor Comment:
You are assuming visitors recognise the dangers. That's a false assumption. Middle East countries are not noted for beaches or for Olympic swimmers. As we've said and as the lifeguards have said, warnings must begin at the airport and continue on check-in at resorts. People can hardly be blamed for believing the brochures. They must be told, not once but several times, because the marketing that Phuket is a safe year-round beach destination is not true. Every life is worth saving and every drowning needless, Paul. Nobody fully aware of the dangers would knowingly put their life at risk.
While it is always sad at the loss of any life on a beach i have little faith with those so called life savers having walked patong beach for many years come low season i am amazed at being able to spot any doing the delegated paid job. Many times facing inland or promoting jet skis and umbrellas or para sailing, I dont even want to start on the jet skis they having now taken over the southern end so called swimming zones have jet skis on the beach a split area for two para gliding take offs yet the enjoining jet ski zone has nil activity to you use an aussie expression they are all taking the piss!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
July 6, 2015 08:02
Dear Paul,
Where are the warnings, please??
Red flags size of large socks, that don't confirm to any ISO or known national standards, and the sand flags used by Lords of Parasailing to delimit landing area of "parachute"?
In addition there are so many various flags - which on normal beach had to be banned as they distract from safety signage , so that these small red flags are totally lost in a whole picture.
In addition, I have difficulty myself to reignite which red flag mean what at Phuket beach at most of times.
And those mini- and micro size info boards by municipality on where which zone is - which are not only of pity size , but also locate not at any point where tourust can enter the beach (!) but at the side perimeter of pedestrian part of Thaweewong Rd. and they face up parking there!! Only those passing in cars can see them, but surely not read! and no one in sound mind cross the street and join pedestrian part at that point!
Simply imitation of useful activity .
Posted by
Sue
on
July 6, 2015 08:23
MoW
certainly not, as Blue Flag standard doesn't represent a safety sign, this I'm not interested.
How I am interested as you know not in a standard with a Blue Flag print, but in criteria for beaches to earn right to demonstrate Blue Flag standard, and which incorporate ISO reference to a signage of beaches, that, in turn, is mostly based on Victoria state beach signage manual:
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phukets-beaches-late-save-future-tourist-industry-20364/
Posted by
Sue
on
July 6, 2015 10:23
Sorry Sue but you are way out of line and very mis-informed. Red Flag have been very standard for do not swim.
Peopkle have a duty of care on themselves too. We cant keep blaming signs - no life guards - not informed. Please go to Patong Beach right now and tell me if you should swim in it. The answer is clearly no. Common self and a duty of self care will save even more lives.
Posted by
Ciaran
on
July 6, 2015 11:58
Editor Comment:
''Common sense'' is easy to say for someone who has seen a beach in safe conditions and unsafe conditions and can make an informed judgement. For someone just off a plane who has no idea what a beach is supposed to look like, that judgement is far more difficult Visually, the rolling surf looks very appealing. Just as using a snorkel is an acquired skill, so judging whether a beach is safe or not requires experience. Hence the need for frequent warnings. By the time a person who has paid for a beach holiday reaches the sand in their swimming trunks, it's usually too late.
Ciaran,
did I say a red flag does not as a safety warning?
What I said that whole beach signage is grossly mismanaged, as it doesn't bring a result - to effectively inform a target group about dangers.
Every piece of beach is wrong wrong wrong:
- every piece of what is put on the beach so wrong - red flags too small; other flags allowed only to confuse beach goers; all and any info boards either too small or written in non comprehensive language , message us unclear, drowning are inconorehensuve, not used native languages of main incoming tourist groups; place only on entrances to the beach but somewhere where beach patrons hardly can see it;
- signage is limited to sporadical few form or locations of safety signage, completely omitting others like accompanying info boards about the meaning of flags, where are lifeguards located and how they look, no signage at the main access entrance on the beach or facing a beach when you are there and so on.
This all goes completely against ISO standard in beach safety signage (which Thailand, strangely, hasn't adopted as a national standard , albeit have it is one of most visited beach destinations globally) , nor similar widely recognized national standards.
ISO 20712 series standards are based to very large degree on National Aquatic and Recreational Signage Style Manual by the Government of Victoria state of Australia.
Unlike standards, which can be accessed only for a fee, the manual is in public domain, you see how good and comprehensive it already is:
http://www.vcc.vic.gov.au/assets/media/files/SignageManual3.pdf
Please take a look, keeping in mind that most of mentioned in the manual optional features are mandatory in the ISO, as well as minimum size of signage has been greatly increased , and please compare with that utter non-sense signage that you around Phuket beaches.
And I know why they don't put proper signage - because sufficient awareness of beach dangers would reduce business incomes.
Posted by
Sue
on
July 7, 2015 06:42
Lifeguards chased us out of the water today. Screaming and swearing at us. I wish I could file a complaint.
Posted by
Wim
on
July 14, 2015 17:43
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Can anyone tell me where are lifeguards tower or at least nest is located at North Patong? And how lifeguards looks like this year? I.e. if there is a need to call for one, how one can figure out location of a lifeguard and recognize him?
Posted by Sue on July 4, 2015 21:33