Tourist drowns off Patong beach

PATONG: The body of a Malaysian tourist, Cheu Chee Hou, 27, was found yesterday on Patong Beach, after he disappeared while in Phuket on his honeymoon. Pol Capt Ampolwat Sangruang of the Kathu Police Station said he received a report from villagers that they had found Mr Hou’s body lying on the beach opposite the Holiday Inn Hotel on Thaweewong Rd at 6 am yesterday. Mr Hou was swimming on Saturday afternoon with his wife, Olivia See, 29. “Other people on the beach raised the alarm after they saw the couple, who were about 50 meters offshore in heavy seas, waving for help,” Capt Ampolwat told the Gazette. An employee of a para-sailing company, Vicharn Sripiphat, 18, used a jet ski to reach the couple and, after throwing a rope to them, began towing them back to shore. However, Mr Hou was apparently too tired to hang on and disappeared beneath the waves. Ms See was taken to Patong Hospital for treatment while Marine Police officers and volunteers from the Kusornlatham Foundation attempted to locate Mr Hou. After an hour battling strong winds and large waves, they gave up and returned to shore. The couple, who were staying at the Baan Thai Hotel in Patong, arrived in Phuket on Thursday and were due to return to Malaysia yesterday.