Search continues for missing American tourist in Patong Bay
Patong police have confirmed that they are continuing the search for a missing American tourist, despite reducing the scale of operations since her disappearance five days ago in Patong Bay.
Nina Ng, a 38 year old New Yorker, was last observed removing her life jacket and entering the water from a hired jet ski approximately 1 kilometre from Patong Beach on February 27. She has not been seen since, prompting search efforts when she failed to return to shore with the jet ski that afternoon.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Chumphusang, Investigation Superintendent at Patong Police Station, stated yesterday, March 4, that the search remains active.
“The search is ongoing and will not be called off until her body is found.”
He acknowledged the expertise of rescue workers, who indicated that Ng’s chances of survival are low at this point. However, he emphasised that conclusions cannot be drawn until she is located.
“There is a possibility that a boat picked her up, and she may be alive somewhere.”
Patong police have coordinated with vendors and lifeguards along Patong Beach to report any new information.
“If anyone sees her, please report it to Patong Police Station.”
Officers have also collected Ng’s belongings from her hotel, as March 4 was her scheduled check-out day. Her family has been informed, and the police remain dedicated to finding her.
Phuket Member of Parliament Chalermpong Saengdee noted that the official search operation has been reduced due to budget constraints.
“We have exerted our utmost efforts to locate her, but budget limitations forced a reduction in the mission’s scale. The search area has expanded beyond Patong Bay into the open sea, which complicates the search.”
Some local units, including the dive team and the Kusoldharm rescue team, have been withdrawn from the search. Kusoldharm rescue workers had conducted searches over three days but ended their efforts on March 1, acknowledging the low chances of Ng’s survival in open waters, reported The Phuket News.
A Kusoldharm rescue team member told reporters, “We can only hope and wait to see if a body surfaces.”
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