UPDATE
The man fetched from the water died later on Saturday at Phuket International Hospital. He has been named as Jalal Alamgir, 40, from Bangladesh. He was holidaying on Phuket, staying with friends.
Original Report
PHUKET: Doctors are fighting to save the life of a tourist who was pulled from the sea at a Phuket beach this afternoon.
The man, an Indian, had a faint pulse as medical staff continued to perform cpr on him in the ambulance on the way to Phuket International Hospital in Phuket City.
He was pulled from the water about 3.30pm at Ya Nui beach, one of Phuket's most secluded beaches, where rescue incidents are relatively rare.
The Phuket high season officially began on December 1 and there are usually fewer drownings on Phuket in the tranquil high season than in the more turbulent monsoon season between April and November.
Under the Phuket lifeguard system, Ya Nui beach forms Zone One of Phuket beaches along with with Nai Harn, Kata Noi, Kata and Karon, the southernmost group.
Latest figures released by the Phuket Lifeguard Club show two drownings on Phuket beaches between November 2 and December 1. Both occurred in Zone One.
There were 30 rescues in the zone, including 15 rescues of expats, with three expats taken to hospital and two deaths recorded.
In Phuket's Zone Two - Patong, Kamala and Laem Singh - there were three expats rescued. In Phuket's Zone Three - Surin, Bang Tao, Nai Yang and Nai Thon - 28 rescues took place, 21 of them expats, with one expat taken to hospital.
Ya Nui, between Nai Harn and Cape Promthep, remains relatively undeveloped with local bungalows behind the small beach.
When referring to Yanui as a gem, that may have been true some years ago.
Nowadays however it has perhaps the largest amount of trash of any beach in Phuket and even worse - the sewage pipe from the small community across the street runs right into the beach at its northern end.
In addition to raw sewage there is so much oil in the sand that just about every time you go walking there barefoot you will get oily stains on your feet.
A soil and water analysis would certainly give interesting results.
It's a real shame because it's one of my favorite beaches here but also a prime example of what negligence, greed and indifference does and eventually will do to all Phuket beaches.
Posted by Steve C. on December 3, 2011 18:22