Phuket resort sets up private life-saving team

PHUKET: Katathani Phuket Beach Resort is beefing up Kata Noi Beach security by providing its own privately funded safety and rescue team to patrol the small but popular stretch of sand.

“This safety project is being launched in hopes of raising tourists’ confidence. We want all related businesses to join us and serve as examples for other beaches,” said Katathani Phuket Beach Resort Managing Director Sombat Atiset on June 5.

“This is the first time an initiative like this is being taken outside of what the government already provides for the beaches. It will cost us about 1.5 million baht per year.

“We hope that this takes pressure off the government to provide lifeguards at this particular beach so that their lifeguards can be placed at other beaches where life-saving teams are needed.”

Mr Sombat explained that there would be three lifeguards, six beach security officers and two nurses on hand.

“They will keep watch and work as a team to help tourists. There will also be three cleaning staff who will make sure tourists are using garbage bins,” he said.

Mr Sombat noted that the safety team would be fully equipped with watch towers, jet-skis, life jackets, body boards and surf boards. Life-saving equipment and first aid kits include whistles, flippers, walkie-talkies, and surf safety flags and signs.

The Katathani life-saving team would be placed on the beach in addition to the five lifeguards already under contract with, and provided by, the Phuket Lifeguard Club (PLC), confirmed Kata-Karon chief lifeguard Uten Singsom.

“We will not move our lifeguards to another beach until we are ordered to do so by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization,” Mr Uten said.

“If we are asked to move once this private lifeguard service is in place, we will move to either Kata Beach or Karon Beach. We can always use more lifeguards there.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong