Singaporean tourist drowns
PATONG (Nation, TNA): A Singaporean tourist drowned after he and a friend ignored red warning flags and went swimming in rough, monsoon-season seas at Patong Beach yesterday.
Chua Holk Beng, 34, was found dead just before 3 pm.
His friend, identified as Edwardgos Tingtos, 34, was rescued by members of the Phuket Provincial Administration (OrBorJor) beach guard.
He was taken to Patong Hospital, where he was last reported as unconscious but in stable condition.
Both tourists arrived in Phuket for a seminar on tourism, staying at a hotel near the beach.
Red warning flags have been placed on a number of west coast beaches including Patong beach banning swimming for the safety of tourists due to high waves induced by southwest monsoon, now prevailing in the Andaman.
