Tourist missing, presumed drowned, off Nai Thon Beach, Phuket

PHOTOS: Phuket Hotnews

A 29 year old tourist is still missing after going swimming off Nai Thon Beach in northern Phuket on Wednesday night, (October 30).

Local Saku police received a report about the tourist who disappeared whilst swimming off the southern end of Nai Thon Beach, in Thalang District, around 7pm.

At the beach, police found distraught 29 year old Roslik Irene, from Belarus, the wife of the man who disappeared whilst swimming. She was still in shock but was able to inform police that her 31 year old husband, Shchartsou Makin, was missing and had disappeared whilst swimming off the coast.

Sirinat National Park officers searched, along with Kusoldham Phuket Foundation members and other organisations who attended the scene, but still couldn’t find him as the waves were strong and it was now getting dark.

Before the incident, the couple were travelling around Phuket and stayed at a hotel in the Layan area. They rode a motorcycle to Nai Thon Beach, north of Layan Beach and south of Nai Yang Beach, and the wife reported that Shchartsou was pulled under by a wave into the rough waters and disappeared. The wife immediately called for help from people nearby before they contacted the police.

As the night went on searchers were still unable to find the man. The Royal Thai Navy dispatched a helicopter and national park officials deployed search teams in inflatable boats to find the man yesterday, to no avail.

SOURCE: Phuket Hotnews