Foreign tourist drowns at Pattaya Beach

A foreign tourist of unknown nationality tragically drowned at Pattaya Beach in Chon Buri province in eastern Thailand yesterday.

At 2pm, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasat Rescue Foundation was informed that a foreign tourist was pulled out from the water at Pattaya Beach in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district.

Rescue workers found a Western male estimated to be between 55 and 60 years old lying on the beach unconscious.

Lifeguards and rescue workers performed CPR on the tourist but sadly their efforts were unsuccessful. The tourist’s identity has not yet been confirmed.

A Thai woman, 44 year old Bang-on Somphan, told the police that the deceased often came to the beach to swim alone.

Bang-on said she didn’t see the man drowning but said that two Indian tourists walking along the beach spotted the man struggling in the water and pulled him out onto the beach.

The man’s body has been taken for an autopsy to confirm whether drowning was the cause of death.

Authorities are working on identifying the deceased to inform his embassy and relatives.

Officials warn tourists to be cautious swimming – especially alone – at this time as there are strong waves, strong currents and strong winds.

Last week, a 55 year old Russian man drowned while swimming in the sea near an island in Krabi province in southern Thailand.

On March 6, a 58 year old German man drowned at Koh Samui‘s Chaweng Beach.

On February 28, a Taiwanese tourist drowned while snorkelling near an island in Krabi province.

In January, lifeguards at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya saved a foreign tourist of unknown nationality from drowning. It is estimated that he was submerged under the water for five to 10 minutes.

In November last year, a Russian tourist drowned while swimming at Karon Beach on the west coast of Phuket.

Last week, a Thai police officer drowned after jumping into a dam to catch a drug dealer.