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Brit Pensioner, 75, Swept Out to Sea & Dies in Hua Hin

A 75-year-old British pensioner from Liverpool has died after being swept out to sea while swimming in Hua Hin. The man was reportedly caught in a rip current as his girlfriend watched from the beach, unable to help. His body was later discovered by a fisherman near a pier at around 4.30pm local time on Wednesday, 15 April.

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Police Captain Prasong Jaturat said the victim was a widower whose family remains in England, where he lives with his children, since the death of his wife. He had been swimming every morning at the same location since arriving in Thailand, where conditions had typically been calm. On the day of the incident, however, the sea was rough and no other swimmers were in the water.

Authorities believe the man entered the sea near the mouth of a bay, in a ferry channel used by vessels. The area is known to be particularly deep due to dredging for large boats. It is thought he may have been caught in a rip current and pulled under by strong waves.

Witnesses alerted police after the body was found, and officers were called to the scene shortly afterwards. The body was transported to Hua Hin Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The UK Foreign Office has been contacted for comment regarding the incident.

Beach drownings remain a recurring safety concern in Thailand, particularly in popular tourist destinations such as Phuket, Pattaya and Krabi. Incidents are often linked to strong rip currents, lack of swimming ability and failure to follow warning signs posted along beaches.

The risks are typically higher during the rainy monsoon season, when red flags are displayed to warn of dangerous sea conditions. However, fatalities can occur throughout the year due to the unpredictable nature of coastal waters in both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

Officials continue to urge swimmers to exercise caution, particularly in unfamiliar areas or near boat channels where currents may be stronger. Greater awareness of rip current risks and adherence to safety warnings are seen as key measures to prevent similar tragedies.

The Sun reported that further updates may follow pending the results of the post-mortem examination and any additional findings from local authorities.

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Picture courtesy of The Sun

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BusyB Platinum Member

BusyB

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Priorexpat said:

Relax, float faceup, begin to swim whats referred to as elemental backstroke, when you can, roll to freestyle, parallel to the beach til out of the rip then in.

You gotta know that though. And be capable of staying cool when in danger.

BusyB Platinum Member

BusyB

Advanced Member
8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

the mouth of a bay, in a ferry channel used by vessels.

Looking at the foto with the stone edifice behind those cops it seems that this is Khao Takiab beach rather than Hua Hin? Anyone agree?

Liverpool Lou Star Member

Liverpool Lou

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Priorexpat said:

Relax, float faceup, begin to swim whats referred to as elemental backstroke, when you can, roll to freestyle, parallel to the beach til out of the rip then in.

0h, all that is so easy for a 74-year-old is it?

Liverpool Lou Star Member

Liverpool Lou

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Happens every week. You don't hear about all of them.

So how do you know about all of them if they're not reported?

Liverpool Lou Star Member

Liverpool Lou

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, connda said:

According to a friend of mine who drown and was resuscitated, it is incredibly peaceful.

How could being unconscious be anything other than "incredibly peaceful?! Having said that, I doubt that inhaling sea water through one's mouth and nose until the lungs are full would be "incredibly peaceful", neither would the sheer panic before unconsciousness set in.

Liverpool Lou Star Member

Liverpool Lou

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Packer said:

Let's pray that he had sold up at home and everything was in the GF's name.

Why would anyone want to pray for that?

TopThai1964 Explorer Member

TopThai1964

Member
5 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

I’m surprised they couldn’t have alerted a lifeguard that had a jet ski or a little boat that could’ve went out there and saved his life TIT

5 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

I’m surprised they couldn’t have alerted a lifeguard that had a jet ski or a little boat that could’ve went out there and saved his life TIT

5 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

I’m surprised they couldn’t have alerted a lifeguard that had a jet ski or a little boat that could’ve went out there and saved his life TIT

no life guards there and Wednesday is "Beach cleaning day" in Hua Hin ! No sunbeds on the beach allowed, few people !

BusyB Platinum Member

BusyB

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

One would think that on populated beaches like Hua Hin they could certainly afford to have a couple of lifeguards on duty.

Drowning has to be a very terrifying way to die.

It's why I made a point of becoming a very good swimmer though I loved it once I'd learned. The thought literally terrified me. I grew up near a beach and heard of kids drowning.

But while I've still got the stamina for longer distances, I can't keep the speeds I used to do for very long nowadays. Used to be a competition swimmer in the army and played water polo in a county league.

Guess I'm wilting and dying.

Feel sad for this guy.

TopThai1964 Explorer Member

TopThai1964

Member

I know the Beach and Ocean where it happened ! Never heard of currents there ! Maybe a medical problem ! RIP !

BusyB Platinum Member

BusyB

Advanced Member
9 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Why would anyone want to pray for that?

I suppose god knows.

Easterneye Senior Member

Easterneye

Member

For the grace of God go I .

Many years ago in the Ban Phe area I had a similar experience swimming on my own from a little bit of hotel private beach 😢

Andrew65 Platinum Member

Andrew65

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As confirmed by a very good seaswimmer who lives in Thailand, always swim across a riptide to escape it, people come to grief when they try to swim against it.

Keeenok Powell Silver Member

Keeenok Powell

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, BusyB said:

Something I am definitely finding one of the hardest tasks of an active and varied life.

In my mind's eye I'm still 30 or 40. But I'm constantly being confronted with the reality of my noticeable physical decline at 70 - and that is not yet even particularly pronounced.

But like it or not some things have to be gradually surrendered with grace. Otherwise I suspect life becomes a hellhole of anger and resentment that's not really worth living.

Focus has to be on gratitude for what's left and all the experiences had.

But I guess there comes a time when as Dante said (paraquote): Not even the greatest successes in life can ease for a second the dire pain of the death bed.

That's the stage at which I definitely want to have the support of assisted suicide legislation. I've also had enough mental and physical pain in life. I don't want it to end on that extreme note.

And the busybody 'believers' and moral do-'good'ers should get stuffed. If they don't wanna do it, then don't. But get your mucky, sticky, cloying paws out of my life - and my death.

(And if by some unlikely chance I do get accosted at the Pearly Gates by Peter, my first words will be, ''What the bloody hell do you lot think you're playing at?!'')

And to think some people on here make it all about themselves eh?

JustinTyme Senior Member

JustinTyme

Member
5 hours ago, Packer said:

Let's pray that he had sold up at home and everything was in the GF's name.

I see lots of "thumbs down" here, but I do understand what you are saying, and it is actually a great reminder, since this gentleman was really at an advanced age. I spent a lot of time setting up my girlfriend, who is 30 years younger than me, for an effortless wealth transfer. "people do not plan to fail, they fail to plan." To you "thumb down" people -- If you just want the Bank and Local Authorities to split up your assets, "up to you han-sum man" ... but I want ALL the money and property going to the one person in the world who has been there for me, for 15+ years, and hopefully plenty more, since she has given me the happiest days of my life.

thecyclist Gold Member

thecyclist

Advanced Member
5 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Does anyone not rest in peace?

Those that are send to hell.

Rockyroad Platinum Member

Rockyroad

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, Andrew65 said:

As confirmed by a very good seaswimmer who lives in Thailand, always swim across a riptide to escape it, people come to grief when they try to swim against it.

He's passed on and can't read your safety tip!

Feingeist Senior Member

Feingeist

Member

R.I.P. It is very sad that this had to happen. This unfortunately happens quite often at Karon Beach in Phuket, even when red flags aren't flying. There are warning signs, but they are unfortunately ignored by certain swimmers.

https://previews.123rf.com/images/haveseen/haveseen1110/haveseen111000043/10784897-beach-warning-sign-in-thailand.jpg

freedomnow Platinum Member

freedomnow

Advanced Member
8 hours ago, PhilipHabib said:

oh that's too bad , I used to do 50 underwater in one breath hold

Was that your training for going down on gogo dancers ?

SingAPorn Gold Member

SingAPorn

Advanced Member

In such beaches full of foreigners, there should either be a daily update of the red flag to warn swimmers or have lifeguards on duty, As such tragedies are a very bad image for Hua Hin. Hua Hin has many rocky areas around the main public beach that make it unsafe even when it's calm. Plus the jellyfish and now the currents. Hua Hin could be ok for the elderly but definately not the first choice to make if one wants to see lovely Thai beaches that are safe.

vangrop Silver Member

vangrop

Advanced Member

best sonkran ever for the rich liberated gf

vangrop Silver Member

vangrop

Advanced Member
9 hours ago, Purdey said:

Rip to the guy and sadly, the shock his kids will get when they hear he has drowned.

Unless he had secretly married the girlfriend or written a will, everything will go to his children. Whatever is in his hotel room may miraculously disappear however.

those kids don't care the old man who left their mother for banging a whore in the bigest brothel of the world

NanLaew Star Member

NanLaew

Advanced Member
11 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I think if you're okay with death, if you're terminally ill, if you are depressed, or if you are suicidal, it's likely a peaceful way to go if you just give into it, but I think if you have a strong desire to live it has to be terrifying, regardless of what some people say.

You aren't terrified by the actual drowning, the panic that precedes it is what you find terrifying. In reality, after the second lungful of water, it goes quiet and peace descends.

PhilipHabib Senior Member

PhilipHabib

Member
1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

You aren't terrified by the actual drowning, the panic that precedes it is what you find terrifying. In reality, after the second lungful of water, it goes quiet and peace descends.

Not true as I've drowned 2x in the ocean and knew it was time to sink or swim regardless how much water was ingested

The ocean is the most terrifying place on the planet by far , well that and an evening in the Southside of Chicago

jacko45k Star Member

jacko45k

Advanced Member
18 hours ago, twizzian said:

In the sea?, in a rip current?

It was simply one of those 'I am better than you posts', if you say you have been to Tenerife, they have been to Elevenerife!

oslooskar Silver Member

oslooskar

Advanced Member
12 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Was that your training for going down on gogo dancers ?

No need for that type of training if one makes use of a snorkel.

JimHuaHin Platinum Member

JimHuaHin

Advanced Member
17 hours ago, BusyB said:

Looking at the foto with the stone edifice behind those cops it seems that this is Khao Takiab beach rather than Hua Hin? Anyone agree?

Yes, it is Hua Na beach in Khao Ta Kiab.

About 8 years ago, a farang neighbour, then mid-60s, drowned at this location, close to where the picture was taken.

Explorator en Action Senior Member

Explorator en Action

Member
22 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

One would think that on populated beaches like Hua Hin they could certainly afford to have a couple of lifeguards on duty.

Drowning has to be a very terrifying way to die.

Yeah, the stress alone on your heart could lead to a cardiac arrest, unable to fend for yourself, not a peaceful way to die at all.

Explorator en Action Senior Member

Explorator en Action

Member
18 hours ago, Chongalulu said:

I’m of that age and swim a few hundred metres out to sea. Essential difference is I’m an ex diver and will have proper divers fins and face mask / snorkel . Huge difference.

I am experimenting with a dry snorkle after all my life swallowing a bit of sea water, so far so good - looked at the mask/snorkle over top of the head, Naaah, don’t like the look and don’t trust being able to breath when I need too.

KhunLA Star Member

KhunLA

Advanced Member

If not a confident swimmer, or getting up there in the years, you could simply fold up an inflatable in you pocket, JIC.

Chongalulu Platinum Member

Chongalulu

Advanced Member
On 4/18/2026 at 8:17 AM, Explorator en Action said:

I am experimenting with a dry snorkle after all my life swallowing a bit of sea water, so far so good - looked at the mask/snorkle over top of the head, Naaah, don’t like the look and don’t trust being able to breath when I need too.

Those all in one mask snorkels are of course useless if you want to dive down just a few metres- can’t equalise your ears . As a diver my recommendation would be to spend more on a decent dive mask ( Cressi etc) and try a few on to see which one fits your face. A low volume mask with extended downwards lense (for wider vision) is my favourite . Try decent fins too - huge difference in propulsion.

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