Australian tourist drowns off Kata Noi

KATA: A 57-year-old Australian tourist named by police as Ian Branwell drowned in heavy waves off Kata Noi beach on Friday morning. Mr Branwell was staying with his wife at the Kata Thani Hotel. The couple went swimming mid-morning. Mrs Branwell, who last saw her husband floating on his back, noticed that he had disappeared and summoned help. A beach guard on a jet-ski pulled Mr Branwell from the water, but he was declared dead on arrival at Phuket International Hospital. Mr Branwell is the tenth tourist to die in Phuket waters this year.