Kuwaiti father dies during swim at Patong Beach

PHUKET: A Kuwaiti man on holiday with his Thai wife and their child died while swimming at Patong Beach yesterday afternoon.

Abudullam Haalmusawi, 71, was found floating face-down by other swimmers off Patong’s Loma Park. He was taken to Patong Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police confirm.

Mr Haalmusawi’s distraught wife, Kamla Rungrueng, aged approximately 40 years old, said she and her husband had been on holiday in Phuket with their 10-year-old son for the past 10 days.

Mr Haalmusawi went swimming around 3.30pm, leaving his wife and children on the beach. About half an hour later Mrs Kamla was stunned to see people crowded around lifeguards attempting to resuscitate her husband.

The lifeguards said Mr Haalmusawi first swam out of the safe swimming zone. They called him back and he returned to the safe zone to swim among the other tourists.

Some time later, swimmers noticed he was unconscious in the water.

Police say Mr Haalmusawi was known to have several health issues, including high blood pressure. They are waiting for postmortem results to determine the exact cause of death.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong