PHUKET: Thanks to Phuketwan, the man who drowned at Nai Harn and whose identity was a mystery now has a name. And his family is on the way to Phuket.
Phuket friends of the man have confirmed that he was Danish citizen Rasmus Beyemann, 72, who had been living in retirement on Phuket for about five years.
Mr Beyemann was rescued from rough sea at Nai Harn, Phuket's most southern beach, on June 19. Although he was alive as lifeguards performed cpr techniques on the sand, he died on the way to hospital.
The mystery began when police could not identify him. He was wearing only a pair of check shorts and some gold jewellery.
If he had stayed unidentified, after 15 days he would have been buried in a pauper's grave on Phuket. His body is in Vachira Phuket Hospital.
This week, Phuketwan took the unprecedented step of publishing a selection of photos of the unknown man. As a result, friends of Mr Beyemann recognised him and contacted his family.
It's possible Mr Beyemann may have died from complications but his death will probably be recorded as a drowning on Phuket - the sixth in a month and a day.
The spate of drownings, the murder of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith, 60, on Wednesday and the high number of tourists who are killed or injured riding motorcycles are all likely to be discussed when Phuket's top administrators, police and tourism industry leaders meet in Phuket City in two days.
June 19 An unidentified Western man aged about 60 drowns at Nai Harn as red flags fly. Two Chinese tourists, a man and a woman, are rescued. The dead man is later identified through Phuketwan as Dane Rasmus Beyemann.
June 12 Arizona State University student Joshua Shane, 21, goes missing at Patong on a late-night swim with friends. His body is found on June 14. Another swimmer requires hospital treatment.
June 8 A tourist from Egypt and a tourist from Kuwait, visiting Phuket, go on a whitewater adventure tour north of Phuket with friends. The friends are rescued when a monsoon-boosted stream overturns their raft. The two men drown.
June 2 A young Thai visitor from Bangkok, Austatiwood Prommarat, 18, disappears into the surf at Patong after he and a relative allegedly hang their shirts on a red warning flag before going into the water. The relative is rescued.
May 31 An American kite surfer collapses in the shallows at Nai Harn, Phuket's most southerly beach, and dies soon after. His death may not have been a drowning but possibly a heart attack.
May 30 Russian tourist Denis Korobogatov, 33, appears to be caught by a ''rip'' tide at Karon beach and dragged to his death.
May 27 Phuket's lifeguards, absent from Phuket beaches for seven weeks because of a contractual dispute, return to daily patrols of Phuket's 13 most popular west coast beaches.
May 20 On a day's outing to difficult-to-access Freedom Beach, between Patong and Karon, Frenchman Stephane Dacosta, 32, disappears into the water. He washes ashore at nearby Kata beach a day later.
May 18 With lifeguards absent from all of Phuket's beaches, Frenchman Angelo Piazza, 53, disappears into the surf at Karon beach, south of Patong, and drowns.
The figure of seven beach deaths on Phuket between May 18 and June 19 contrasts with just five drownings recorded for the whole of Phuket - including deaths in ponds and canals as well as beaches - in the first four months of the year.
Phuket friends of the man have confirmed that he was Danish citizen Rasmus Beyemann, 72, who had been living in retirement on Phuket for about five years.
Mr Beyemann was rescued from rough sea at Nai Harn, Phuket's most southern beach, on June 19. Although he was alive as lifeguards performed cpr techniques on the sand, he died on the way to hospital.
The mystery began when police could not identify him. He was wearing only a pair of check shorts and some gold jewellery.
If he had stayed unidentified, after 15 days he would have been buried in a pauper's grave on Phuket. His body is in Vachira Phuket Hospital.
This week, Phuketwan took the unprecedented step of publishing a selection of photos of the unknown man. As a result, friends of Mr Beyemann recognised him and contacted his family.
It's possible Mr Beyemann may have died from complications but his death will probably be recorded as a drowning on Phuket - the sixth in a month and a day.
The spate of drownings, the murder of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith, 60, on Wednesday and the high number of tourists who are killed or injured riding motorcycles are all likely to be discussed when Phuket's top administrators, police and tourism industry leaders meet in Phuket City in two days.
Drownings on Phuket May 18-June 19
June 19 An unidentified Western man aged about 60 drowns at Nai Harn as red flags fly. Two Chinese tourists, a man and a woman, are rescued. The dead man is later identified through Phuketwan as Dane Rasmus Beyemann.
June 12 Arizona State University student Joshua Shane, 21, goes missing at Patong on a late-night swim with friends. His body is found on June 14. Another swimmer requires hospital treatment.
June 8 A tourist from Egypt and a tourist from Kuwait, visiting Phuket, go on a whitewater adventure tour north of Phuket with friends. The friends are rescued when a monsoon-boosted stream overturns their raft. The two men drown.
June 2 A young Thai visitor from Bangkok, Austatiwood Prommarat, 18, disappears into the surf at Patong after he and a relative allegedly hang their shirts on a red warning flag before going into the water. The relative is rescued.
May 31 An American kite surfer collapses in the shallows at Nai Harn, Phuket's most southerly beach, and dies soon after. His death may not have been a drowning but possibly a heart attack.
May 30 Russian tourist Denis Korobogatov, 33, appears to be caught by a ''rip'' tide at Karon beach and dragged to his death.
May 27 Phuket's lifeguards, absent from Phuket beaches for seven weeks because of a contractual dispute, return to daily patrols of Phuket's 13 most popular west coast beaches.
May 20 On a day's outing to difficult-to-access Freedom Beach, between Patong and Karon, Frenchman Stephane Dacosta, 32, disappears into the water. He washes ashore at nearby Kata beach a day later.
May 18 With lifeguards absent from all of Phuket's beaches, Frenchman Angelo Piazza, 53, disappears into the surf at Karon beach, south of Patong, and drowns.
The figure of seven beach deaths on Phuket between May 18 and June 19 contrasts with just five drownings recorded for the whole of Phuket - including deaths in ponds and canals as well as beaches - in the first four months of the year.
Thank you PW. Your publishing the photos was nothing to be ashamed of, it brought the mans family to him. RIP good fella. Condolences to the family and friends.
Posted by Dun on June 25, 2012 17:29