Phuket lifeguards save drunk Singaporean from drowning

PHUKET: A Singaporean tourist who spent hours relaxing and drinking on the beach at Cherng Talay yesterday afternoon was rescued by Phuket lifeguards after he attempted to go for a swim.

Lai Yeohchai, 23, was pulled from the water conscious, but drunk, at about 3:55pm, one of the lifeguards at Surin Beach told the Phuket Gazette.

“He sat on the beach and drank for hours before going in the water,” the lifeguard said.

“He was hit by big waves and dragged away. I saw it from the beach guard tower and called for another lifeguard to help me rescue him,” he said.

“We finally pulled him out of the water. He was conscious, but very drunk,” the lifeguard added.

Mr Lai was taken to Thalang Hospital, where staff told the Gazette that he was safe.

“He was kept at the hospital until it was safe for him to be discharged,” a hospital staffer said.

— Thawit Bilabdullar