Chinese tourist drowns on Phi Phi snorkelling tour

PHUKET: A Chinese tourist died while on a snorkelling day-trip to Phi Phi Island yesterday.

Xu Weixiang, 43, was snorkelling at Loh Mudee Bay with about 30 other tourists from Phuket, said Lt Col Danai Niyomdecha of the Krabi City Police.

“The tour guide said Mr Xu was snorkeling with others, but at about 4pm he was found floating face down in the water,” Col Danai told the Phuket Gazette.

Alerted by the fact that Mr Xu was motionless, the tour guide had him quickly retrieved from the water, he said.

“Mr Xu was given CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] and rushed by speedboat to Phi Phi Hospital,” Col Danai explained. “However, Mr Xu was pronounced dead on arrival.”

Doctors confirmed the cause of death as drowning, he added.

The Chinese consulate in Phuket had been notified of the incident, Col Dani confirmed.

“Mr Xu’s body was taken to Vachira Hospital Phuket,” he added.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong