Patong lifeguards revive Russian boy after swimming lesson with dad goes wrong

PHUKET: Patong Beach lifeguards were hailed as heroes yesterday for saving the life of a 5-year-old Russian boy, who nearly drowned while being taught to swim by his father.

The incident occurred at the beach area opposite the entrance to Bangla Road.

Lifeguard Somprasong Seangchart said the boy’s father ran up the beach carrying his unconscious son to seek help from the lifeguards at about 4pm.

The lifeguards administered Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for between five and ten minutes until an ambulance arrived, by which time the boy had regained consciousness and had become responsive.
He was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital and confined to an ICU. Hospital staff confirmed this afternoon that the boy was now out of danger and making a steady recovery.

Mr Somprasong told the Gazette that he and other beach goers had grown increasingly concerned for the boy’s safety as they watched the father’s aggressive teaching technique.

“Passersby even approached the man and tried to warn him against holding his son’s head under water, in what appeared to be an attempt to teach his son how to hold his breath, but he just shooed them away,” said Mr Somprasong.

“A vendor who was distressed at watching the man continually push his son’s head down complained to the lifeguards that the boy was struggling to stay afloat and having difficulty breathing,” Mr Somprasong told the Gazette.

“Eventually, the boy collapsed, and only then did his father scoop him up and carry him up the beach to the lifeguards. The sea was very calm. There were no waves,” said Mr Somprasong .

— Pruth Kulprasit