PHUKET: A young man is missing, feared drowned, after he went to bathe in the sea at a Phuket beach close to sunset yesterday and disappeared.
The search resumed today for Nitiporn Lorlam, 16, last seen in a remote part of the beach at Nai Yang, in the Sirinath National Park.
He disappeared about 6.20pm while in the company of friends on the beach.
A search by the Royal Thai Navy and Kusoldharm Foundation rescuers continued until close to midnight and resumed today.
A Nai Yang lifeguard patrol operates further along the beach, closer to the Phuket International Airport.
However, a lifeguard spokesperson said today that Khun Nitiporn chose to bathe at a spot where there was a dangerous ''fixed rip'' - a year-round current that grows stronger and more menacing in the monsoon season.
''Red flags were flying,'' the lifeguard spokesperson said. ''It is not a safe spot to enter the water.''
Lifeguards hope to move the safe-swim zone so it can be more easily seen by people who want to enter the water close to the national park.
Eight tourist drownings were reported on Phuket's western beaches between May 18 and July 24, the most dangerous time of the year to swim on Phuket.
The search resumed today for Nitiporn Lorlam, 16, last seen in a remote part of the beach at Nai Yang, in the Sirinath National Park.
He disappeared about 6.20pm while in the company of friends on the beach.
A search by the Royal Thai Navy and Kusoldharm Foundation rescuers continued until close to midnight and resumed today.
A Nai Yang lifeguard patrol operates further along the beach, closer to the Phuket International Airport.
However, a lifeguard spokesperson said today that Khun Nitiporn chose to bathe at a spot where there was a dangerous ''fixed rip'' - a year-round current that grows stronger and more menacing in the monsoon season.
''Red flags were flying,'' the lifeguard spokesperson said. ''It is not a safe spot to enter the water.''
Lifeguards hope to move the safe-swim zone so it can be more easily seen by people who want to enter the water close to the national park.
Eight tourist drownings were reported on Phuket's western beaches between May 18 and July 24, the most dangerous time of the year to swim on Phuket.
Who is his mom in the photo, they all look similar? RIP Young man, this accident should not have happened, but an accident none the less.
Posted by Anon on September 27, 2012 17:41