Frenchman and Thai drown in Phuket

KARON, PHUKET: A Frenchman and his Thai companion drowned while swimming in heavy surf off Karon Beach yesterday afternoon.

After the deaths were reported to Chalong Police, rescue workers from the Phuket Ruamjai Kupai Foundation, Phuket Tourist Rescue Center and Karon Hazard Prevention Unit rushed out on surfboards and boats to find the victims.

After about 20 minutes they found the 43-year-old Frenchman who died during the rescue effort.

His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Shortly afterwards they recovered the body of his companion, 31-year-old Thai national Sirinkorn Hosri.

Their bodies were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

There were several other people swimming in the area at the time.

Witnesses said the couple got into trouble after being knocked over by a wave more than two meters high. Currents then pulled them further offshore, where they eventually drowned.

Local officials noted that red  flags warning against swimming were clearly visible at the scene, on the stretch of Karon Beach near the community police box.

Just three days earlier, an Australian family narrowly escaped drowning under similar circumstances at the same beach.