US tourist drowns in Krabi

KRABI: American tourist Michael George Smith, 48, died while snorkeling at Koh Pai on Friday. Tour guide Suchart Aonrutee of Phi Phi-based Chao Koh Tour reported to Krabi police that he took Mr Smith and 10 other tourists from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Pai on a snorkeling trip. After they had spent an hour at Koh Pai, K. Suchart called the group back to the boat, then noticed Mr Smith floating face down in the water. He moved the boat close to Mr Smith and found he was unconscious. After failing to revive him, K. Suchart called the police, who took the victim by speedboat to Phi Phi Hospital and from there to Krabi Hospital, where further attempts to resuscitate him failed. Pol Maj Noppadol Mukda of the Krabi Police Station said that there was no evidence of foul play in the drowning. The autopsy showed that his death was due to cerebral anoxia – lack of oxygen supply to the brain.