Foreign woman saved from drowning at Patong Beach, Phuket

PHOTO: Achadtaya Chuenniran

A foreigner, either Swiss or Russian, has been plucked out of the water at Patong Beach, early this morning morning, before sunrise.

The incident occurred opposite the beach road post office, according to tourist police.

An Ethiopian, named as ‘Ephrem’, told police that he found the woman lying face down and unconscious in the shallows just metres from the shore. He told police he pulled her out of the water and called a lifeguard to help. A Thai lifeguard was able to revive the woman who was then rushed to Patong Hospital, and later transferred to Vachira Hospital.

Local Jurairat Suwannawong told police that she had been coming to the beach just before sunrise over the past five days, and “usually appeared to be drunk”, according to a report in the Bangkok Post.

A 36 year old Ukrainian woman arrived at the hospital and was able to identify the woman as Natalia Stravtseva Bahni, claiming she was a friend.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post