PHUKET: A Chinese man came close to becoming the third drowning in the Phuket region in three days but narrowly survived a disturbing incident in the sea off Racha island today.
The man, Wang Da, 24, was brought back from the popular day-trip island to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City where doctors reported he was conscious and appeared to be recovering this evening.
Although Wang Da went on a snorkelling outing with two friends, it was volunteers at Racha who noticed he was not responding normally and dragged him from the sea, beginning resuscitation immediately.
The man was wearing a snorkel but no life jacket, said Santi Pawai, the director of Phuket's Tourism and Sport Division.
''In the absence of funding to put lifeguards on Racha, we have trained up some volunteers and it was one of the volunteers who came to the man's rescue,'' Khun Santi said.
''He is fortunate to still be breathing.
''I aim to take up the issue of why he was not wearing a life jacket and why the boat boys and guides on the vessel that took him to Racha were not taking better care of their customers.''
Khun Santi visited the tourist at Vachira late today. Chinese tourists drown all too frequently on snorkelling day trips to Racha.
While there is usually some excuse provided - larger than normal waves or the victim went swimming after lunch - lack of proper care by guides and boat boys is plainly a significant factor.
Rescues at Racha are almost rarer than drownings.
If Wang Da had succumbed to the seawater, he would have died with lungs invaded by sea water as Korean Seung Jinsro, 45, did at Kata Noi on Wednesday and fellow Chinese Qi Chunhua, 43, did at Karon beach on Thursday - the third drowning victim in Phuket waters in the space of three days.
Phuket's lifeguards and safety experts continue to make the point that tourists from countries where sea swimming is not a normal pastime need to be warned not once, not twice but at least three times as a matter of course if Phuket's reputation as being a safe year-round beach destination is to be rescued and revived.
The man, Wang Da, 24, was brought back from the popular day-trip island to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City where doctors reported he was conscious and appeared to be recovering this evening.
Although Wang Da went on a snorkelling outing with two friends, it was volunteers at Racha who noticed he was not responding normally and dragged him from the sea, beginning resuscitation immediately.
The man was wearing a snorkel but no life jacket, said Santi Pawai, the director of Phuket's Tourism and Sport Division.
''In the absence of funding to put lifeguards on Racha, we have trained up some volunteers and it was one of the volunteers who came to the man's rescue,'' Khun Santi said.
''He is fortunate to still be breathing.
''I aim to take up the issue of why he was not wearing a life jacket and why the boat boys and guides on the vessel that took him to Racha were not taking better care of their customers.''
Khun Santi visited the tourist at Vachira late today. Chinese tourists drown all too frequently on snorkelling day trips to Racha.
While there is usually some excuse provided - larger than normal waves or the victim went swimming after lunch - lack of proper care by guides and boat boys is plainly a significant factor.
Rescues at Racha are almost rarer than drownings.
If Wang Da had succumbed to the seawater, he would have died with lungs invaded by sea water as Korean Seung Jinsro, 45, did at Kata Noi on Wednesday and fellow Chinese Qi Chunhua, 43, did at Karon beach on Thursday - the third drowning victim in Phuket waters in the space of three days.
Phuket's lifeguards and safety experts continue to make the point that tourists from countries where sea swimming is not a normal pastime need to be warned not once, not twice but at least three times as a matter of course if Phuket's reputation as being a safe year-round beach destination is to be rescued and revived.
Well, that is just the beginning of sooo many more drownings since the government is trying to get more tourists from these countries "where sea swimming is not a normal pastime". Their money is more important that training tour guides to REAL skills and general knowledge. Example, how many guides will teach their clients how to use a snorkel? They will say not their job. How many guides take their role seriously and work hard to deserve the salary they ask for? How many guides will dare to tell "bad swimmers" to stay near the beach or near the boat or start by swimming against the current?
Posted by Phuket119 on August 14, 2015 20:28