Tourists’ Phuket beach fun turns into life-or-death drama
Eight foreign tourists narrowly escaped drowning in Phuket’s treacherous seas yesterday after ignoring warning signs on the beaches.
In the first harrowing incident, two Indian couples defied the red flag flying on Karon Beach and ventured into the turbulent waters. Witnesses reported the tourists quickly found themselves overwhelmed by the powerful waves and wind, unable to swim back to shore. Desperate cries for help echoed across the beach.
Swiftly responding to the emergency, lifeguards launched a speedboat and managed to rescue the stranded couples, bringing them safely back to shore. The exhausted tourists received first aid on the beach before being transported to Chalong District Hospital for further evaluation.
Later that afternoon, around 3pm, a similar scenario unfolded at Patong Beach. Four Russian tourists entered the rough seas, disregarding clear warnings about dangerous swimming conditions. They were also swept further from shore as they struggled against the fierce currents. Their frantic calls for help alerted lifeguards, who once again sprang into action. A speedboat rescue mission ensued, and the tourists were safely returned to land.
Currently, red Don’t Swim flags are prominently displayed on most of Phuket’s beaches due to hazardous sea conditions and strong winds, reported Thai PBS World.
In related news, a Russian man drowned on Sunday, June 16 after swimming in the sea at Surin Beach in Phuket despite a red flag warning about strong waves. Thai lifeguards at Surin Beach called officers from Cherngtalay Police Station after a foreign tourist was pulled unconscious from the water.
In other news, a family is mourning the loss of their three year old daughter who drowned in a pond near a childcare centre in Sisaket Province. The family suspects foul play and believes the drowning to be a staged murder. Initial autopsy findings at Sisaket Hospital revealed that the child died from asphyxiation while drowning, with water being aspirated into her lungs, and she had been dead for approximately two hours before being found.
