PHUKET: A Belgian and a Russian drowned on Phuket's beaches today as the nightmare of Phuket's lack of ''duty of care'' claimed four lives within 48 hours.
Today's drownings at Phuket's popular Laem Singh beach and Patong beach follow two deaths of Chinese tourist in Phuket's regional waters within 24 hours.
Phuket's beach safety reputation was shredded today as lifeguards pulled people who entered the seas from the water at many beaches.
Hard-pressed lifeguards could not cope with tourists, enticed to Phuket for beach holidays during the monsoon season, refused to acknowledge red flags.
As a result, Belgian Laurent Jacques Leopold Wanter, 42, drowned at Laem Singh, a small beach between Kamala and Surin, while his wife was rescued.
The tragedy came about 4pm. Ruamkatanyu Foundation Kamala paramedics tried to revive the man who died on the way to Patong Hosptial.
The paramedics said they were told that the waves were three metres high, and no swimmers should have been allowed in the water.
Life guards say the couple ignored the red flags and could not be dissuaded from enjoying their beach holiday swim.
They had been staying at the Duangjitt Resort in Patong since Tuesday and rented a motorcycle to take them to Laem Singh.
The second drowning followed near Loma Park on Patong beach. Russian man Aleksande Poleshchenko, 29, who was staying with his brother at the Holiday Inn Express, was standing in the shallows when a big wave swept the pair of them off their feet.
One brother drowned. The other was rescued.
Earlier in the day, the Phuket Lifeguard Service spokesperson told Phuketwan, two people were revived at Surin beach using cpr after they ignored red flags and warnings from lifeguards twice.
At Patong beach soon after, four people were swept into the sea and three were rescued and revived by lifeguards. The Russian man drowned.
With the Belgian and the Russian man to add to the string of beach tragedies, it's likely that envoys from around the world will be calling for Phuket to be red-flagged as a beach destination during the dangerous monsoon season.
Eight tourists died on Phuket's west coast beaches between mid-May and mid-July last year. The same tragedies are occurring this year, without an appropriate reaction from authorities.
Phuket resorts, local authorities and the management at Phuket International Airport appear to be continuing to ignore the message from lifeguards, Phuketwan and China's ambassador.
The ambassador told Phuket officials just a couple of weeks ago at a public meeting that Chinese tourists - all tourists - must be warned and protected.
No response has come to Chinese officials since that public warning.
The tragedies of the past two days follow a string of drownings of Chinese on snorkelling day-trips.
It also comes after a series of tragedies at this same time last year that provoked no response. Eight tourists drowned in eight weeks on Phuket's popular west coast beaches, between mid-May and mid-July last year.
Phuket's lifeguards were recently told that the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation can only contract them on the beaches for 10 months.
This means that the lifeguards - whose contract has to be renewed annually - will be on Phuket's beaches from June 28 until April 27, when another debate about money may ensure they disappear from the beaches for up to two months yet again.
Phuketwan - and the Chinese ambassador - have suggested that if Phuket wishes to be a year round destination, then all resorts, officials at the airport and the whole community must combine to warn visitors about the dangers of swimming on red flag days.
Otherwise, Phuket is likely to be red-flagged.
Today's drownings at Phuket's popular Laem Singh beach and Patong beach follow two deaths of Chinese tourist in Phuket's regional waters within 24 hours.
Phuket's beach safety reputation was shredded today as lifeguards pulled people who entered the seas from the water at many beaches.
Hard-pressed lifeguards could not cope with tourists, enticed to Phuket for beach holidays during the monsoon season, refused to acknowledge red flags.
As a result, Belgian Laurent Jacques Leopold Wanter, 42, drowned at Laem Singh, a small beach between Kamala and Surin, while his wife was rescued.
The tragedy came about 4pm. Ruamkatanyu Foundation Kamala paramedics tried to revive the man who died on the way to Patong Hosptial.
The paramedics said they were told that the waves were three metres high, and no swimmers should have been allowed in the water.
Life guards say the couple ignored the red flags and could not be dissuaded from enjoying their beach holiday swim.
They had been staying at the Duangjitt Resort in Patong since Tuesday and rented a motorcycle to take them to Laem Singh.
The second drowning followed near Loma Park on Patong beach. Russian man Aleksande Poleshchenko, 29, who was staying with his brother at the Holiday Inn Express, was standing in the shallows when a big wave swept the pair of them off their feet.
One brother drowned. The other was rescued.
Earlier in the day, the Phuket Lifeguard Service spokesperson told Phuketwan, two people were revived at Surin beach using cpr after they ignored red flags and warnings from lifeguards twice.
At Patong beach soon after, four people were swept into the sea and three were rescued and revived by lifeguards. The Russian man drowned.
With the Belgian and the Russian man to add to the string of beach tragedies, it's likely that envoys from around the world will be calling for Phuket to be red-flagged as a beach destination during the dangerous monsoon season.
Eight tourists died on Phuket's west coast beaches between mid-May and mid-July last year. The same tragedies are occurring this year, without an appropriate reaction from authorities.
Phuket resorts, local authorities and the management at Phuket International Airport appear to be continuing to ignore the message from lifeguards, Phuketwan and China's ambassador.
The ambassador told Phuket officials just a couple of weeks ago at a public meeting that Chinese tourists - all tourists - must be warned and protected.
No response has come to Chinese officials since that public warning.
The tragedies of the past two days follow a string of drownings of Chinese on snorkelling day-trips.
It also comes after a series of tragedies at this same time last year that provoked no response. Eight tourists drowned in eight weeks on Phuket's popular west coast beaches, between mid-May and mid-July last year.
Phuket's lifeguards were recently told that the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation can only contract them on the beaches for 10 months.
This means that the lifeguards - whose contract has to be renewed annually - will be on Phuket's beaches from June 28 until April 27, when another debate about money may ensure they disappear from the beaches for up to two months yet again.
Phuketwan - and the Chinese ambassador - have suggested that if Phuket wishes to be a year round destination, then all resorts, officials at the airport and the whole community must combine to warn visitors about the dangers of swimming on red flag days.
Otherwise, Phuket is likely to be red-flagged.
That is very sad news again. But it's what you get when you care about money that you will get, from tourist than to care about tourist who will bring you money. It look same, but not. Take your responsibility and do proper work to prevent that.
Laemsing is small place... So how it can happen???
not like Patong, Kata, Karon, more difficult to secure the full beach...
very sad news, not happy at all to read that.
Posted by Stef on June 20, 2013 21:29