Swiss Tourist Drowns at Karon Beach

KARON: A Swiss student, Andrea Antonio Tavecchio, drowned yesterday morning in front of the Phuket Arcadia Hotel at Karon Beach. He was 24 years old. Pol Capt Sanae Panmee of the Chalong Police station told the Gazette that Mr Tavecchio and three friends went for a swim together. His friends reported that he was carried out to sea and in the struggle to get back became tired and unable to swim. They attempted to throw him a rope, but their efforts were unsuccessful. One of his companions told the police, “If he hadn’t tried to swim back and had waited for help, he may have survived.” An autopsy at Vachira Phuket Hospital has confirmed the death occurred by drowning. Mr Tavecchio is the 12th tourist to drown in the seas around Phuket to date this year.