Survival of Phuket tourist snorkeler in doubt

PHUKET: Doubts linger over the survival of a man pulled from the water at Yanui Beach, on Phuket’s southwestern coast, this afternoon after he failed to regain consciousness en route to hospital.

Jula Nontree, chief lifeguard for Kata, Karon, Nai Harn and Patong Beaches, told the Phuket Gazette he was notified of the incident at 2:50pm.

“When I arrived, lifeguards at Yanui Beach were already performing CPR on the man,” he said, adding that the man looked of Indian origin and likely to be about 40 years old.

“The lifeguards first saw him when he was being pulled from the water by two male tourists. They said they found the man floating face down while he was snorkeling,” Mr Jula said.

An ambulance from the Phuket Tourist Rescue Center, based near Chalong Pier on the other side of the island, arrived about 20minutes later and rushed the man to Phuket International Hospital.

“I went with him in the ambulance. We continued CPR all the way to the hospital, but the man did not regain consciousness and I could not detect a pulse from him without us continuing CPR,” said Mr Jula.

“I am not sure if he is still alive. The last time I spoke to the doctor at the hospital, the doctor said the man’s heart was still beating but he may have suffered brain damage from being deprived from oxygen for too long,” Mr Jula added.

— Chutharat Plerin