Two tourists drown in Phuket beach tragedies
Two tragic incidents unfolded on Phuket’s beaches yesterday resulting in the drowning deaths of a Hong Kong father at Patong Beach and a Kazakh tourist at Karon Beach.
At Patong Beach, yesterday, July 31, Che Ka Fai aka Andy, a 52 year old Chinese national from Hong Kong, was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phongpipat Khamchomphu, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) at Patong Police, confirmed the incident.
Che’s 15 year old son, Che Ho Wa, recounted that they had gone swimming around 11am in an area designated as safe by yellow-red flags. However, they drifted into a restricted zone marked with red no swimming flags. The son, finding himself about 50 metres away from his struggling father, attempted to assist but was unable to reach him and called for help.
A lifeguard rescued Che and brought him back to the beach, where CPR was administered until an emergency medical unit arrived. Despite continued efforts on the way to Patong Hospital, Che was pronounced dead at 12.38pm. The Chinese Consul in Phuket has been notified of the incident.
In a separate incident at Karon Beach, 57 year old Kazakh tourist, Yevgeniy Sapogov, drowned after being pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive. Deputy Superintendent (Investigation) Pol. Col. Teerawat Yodtor reported being informed of the death at 2.20pm. Sapogov, who had arrived in Phuket on holiday with his family, faced trouble while swimming halfway along the beach on their first day.
Efforts to revive him with CPR were made, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival at Chalong Hospital. Sapogov’s body has been transported to the Vachira Phuket Hospital morgue, and the Kazakh embassy has been informed of the incident, reported Phuket News.
In related news, a 27 year old Indian tourist drowned at Surin Beach after getting entangled in a rip current during an early morning swim with friends on July 24.
