PHUKET: A Phuket council is planning to expel lifeguards from a popular but dangerous west coast beach because their rescue shack is unsightly, the council's director said today.
News of the dispute comes with confirmation that a tourist from Bangkok, pulled from the surf at the Ripcurl Girls Go Surfing Day at Kata beach on Saturday, died in hospital today.
An unprecedented number of at least 25 tourists and locals have drowned on Phuket's popular west coast beaches - including Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Yang - so far this year.
The latest victim, non-swimmer Pharuephon Mukdasanit, 34, from Bangkok, was pulled from the water at Kata, taken to Patong Hospital, then transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket City. He died at 4.30am today.
It is believed Khun Pharuephon, a noted graphic artist, was part of the support staff for the Ripcurl women's surfing event. Initial reports say he fell off a board and was unable to make it back to Kata beach.
In an unprecedented move today, the Director of Karon Council, Weerasak Anekwongsawat, said he was determined to force lifeguards off Karon beach, north of Kata, unless they get rid of their unsightly hut.
Phuket's lifeguards are at present under-funded and forced to build their own accommodation at all Phuket beaches. The contentious lifeguard hut sits on the beach in front of the five-star Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa.
''The shack doesn't look good at all,'' Khun Weerasak said today. ''The lifeguards cannot do that. We are going to ask them to move.''
Khun Weerasak, seemingly ignorant of how fast rescues are required, wants the lifeguards to concentrate on walking along the beach.
''If they see someone in difficulty, we can send a jet-ski from the rescue centre at the northern end of Kata beach,'' he said.
''The council has funded that facility with the help of the Royal Thai Navy - and it looks good.''
A spokesperson for the Phuket Lifeguard Service, which provides the lifeguards, said today that if Karon Council insisted on asking the lifeguards to move, additional lifeguards would be welcome at other beaches.
Karon beach is reckoned to be among Phuket's most dangerous during the monsoon season but fatalities have taken place at all popular Phuket beaches.
It is believed part of the reason for the dispute over lifeguard accommodation lies with the failure of the Karon Council to see eye to eye with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, which funds the lifeguards.
''Our Karon mayor is overseas but when he comes back, I will present him with a letter to sign, ordering the lifeguards off the beach,'' Khun Weerasak said today.
Many resorts encourage tourists to consider Phuket as an all-year-round beach destination despite the drowning risks.
Lifeguards say they are unable to prevent people swimming on dangerous days and would like the help of resorts and Phuket officials to intensify warnings and preventative measures.
Phuket's Public Health department ceased releasing updated drowning statistics in April last year.
The British Embassy and the Phuket administration are working towards a water safety summit, to be held on Phuket in October.
Khun Pharuephon, known as Mamafaka, was an award-winning graphic designer who started out with Ogilvy & Mather in 2004 and has recently been winning fresh acclaim as a freelance.
Phuketwan believes that because of the profusion of councils on Phuket with mixed motives, Phuket's beaches can only be properly managed - and swimmers properly protected - with the creation of an independent Phuket Beach Authority.
News of the dispute comes with confirmation that a tourist from Bangkok, pulled from the surf at the Ripcurl Girls Go Surfing Day at Kata beach on Saturday, died in hospital today.
An unprecedented number of at least 25 tourists and locals have drowned on Phuket's popular west coast beaches - including Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Yang - so far this year.
The latest victim, non-swimmer Pharuephon Mukdasanit, 34, from Bangkok, was pulled from the water at Kata, taken to Patong Hospital, then transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket City. He died at 4.30am today.
It is believed Khun Pharuephon, a noted graphic artist, was part of the support staff for the Ripcurl women's surfing event. Initial reports say he fell off a board and was unable to make it back to Kata beach.
In an unprecedented move today, the Director of Karon Council, Weerasak Anekwongsawat, said he was determined to force lifeguards off Karon beach, north of Kata, unless they get rid of their unsightly hut.
Phuket's lifeguards are at present under-funded and forced to build their own accommodation at all Phuket beaches. The contentious lifeguard hut sits on the beach in front of the five-star Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa.
''The shack doesn't look good at all,'' Khun Weerasak said today. ''The lifeguards cannot do that. We are going to ask them to move.''
Khun Weerasak, seemingly ignorant of how fast rescues are required, wants the lifeguards to concentrate on walking along the beach.
''If they see someone in difficulty, we can send a jet-ski from the rescue centre at the northern end of Kata beach,'' he said.
''The council has funded that facility with the help of the Royal Thai Navy - and it looks good.''
A spokesperson for the Phuket Lifeguard Service, which provides the lifeguards, said today that if Karon Council insisted on asking the lifeguards to move, additional lifeguards would be welcome at other beaches.
Karon beach is reckoned to be among Phuket's most dangerous during the monsoon season but fatalities have taken place at all popular Phuket beaches.
It is believed part of the reason for the dispute over lifeguard accommodation lies with the failure of the Karon Council to see eye to eye with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, which funds the lifeguards.
''Our Karon mayor is overseas but when he comes back, I will present him with a letter to sign, ordering the lifeguards off the beach,'' Khun Weerasak said today.
Many resorts encourage tourists to consider Phuket as an all-year-round beach destination despite the drowning risks.
Lifeguards say they are unable to prevent people swimming on dangerous days and would like the help of resorts and Phuket officials to intensify warnings and preventative measures.
Phuket's Public Health department ceased releasing updated drowning statistics in April last year.
The British Embassy and the Phuket administration are working towards a water safety summit, to be held on Phuket in October.
Khun Pharuephon, known as Mamafaka, was an award-winning graphic designer who started out with Ogilvy & Mather in 2004 and has recently been winning fresh acclaim as a freelance.
Phuketwan believes that because of the profusion of councils on Phuket with mixed motives, Phuket's beaches can only be properly managed - and swimmers properly protected - with the creation of an independent Phuket Beach Authority.
Ridiculous comments from Weerasak.
But how can a non-swimmer be part of the support staff at a surfing event? Was there any thinking ahead of that decision?
Posted by stevenl on September 9, 2013 11:16