Phuket Beach Safety: Man missing after swimming in dangerous surf
PHUKET: A Thai man who entered the pounding surf at Patong Beach over the weekend is still missing and presumed dead, the latest in the ever-growing toll of monsoon-season drowning deaths in Phuket.
Atthiwut Prommarat, 18, was visiting his mother who works as a beach vendor when the tragedy occurred, said Uten Singsom, head of the Phuket Lifeguard Club’s Kata-Karon unit.
Mr Attiwut was playing in the water with his uncle, 22-year-old Apichart Piromsod, when both men were pulled offshore by a riptide, Mr Uten explained to the Phuket Gazette.
“A Patong lifeguard was able to save the boy’s uncle, but the boy is still missing. We presume he has drowned,” he said.
Mr Uten went on to explain that not only Thais but also tourists often ignore the red caution flags posted by the lifeguards, despite the guards having just posted new flags clearly marked with “No Swimming Here. Dangerous Strong Current” in Thai and English.
“Our lifeguards are struggling this year because the water is never calm. They can’t rest in this weather and tourists ignore our warnings,” said Mr Uten.
The Phuket Lifeguard Club will speak with the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and/or the police about the issue, he said.
“If tourists will not listen to our warnings, then the police will have to warn them,” he added.
— Chutharat Plerin
