Phuket Denies Lifeguard Shortage Is Killing Tourists

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

  

Onlookers crowd rescue workers attempting to resuscitate Parshukov Oleg on Sunday morning on Phuket's Karon Beach.

 

PHUKET — A senior official on Phuket said Monday the loss of the island’s regular lifeguards was not to blame for the drowning of a Russian tourist at Karon Beach, where seven others had to be rescued from the raging seas.

 

The tourist, identified as Parshukov Oleg, was the second to die on the island’s beaches since a contract with lifeguards was terminated following a contract dispute. The lifeguards were replaced with government workers and naval personnel and resulted in a shortage of guards on some beaches.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/calamity/2017/10/16/phuket-denies-lifeguard-shortage-killing-tourists/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-10-16

Fully agree with the senior(?) official - it's the water that causes the deaths not the lifeguards

What's the choreographed hands on hip pose about?

 

Ah, got it, these are probably the guys and gals that pulled him in from the sea, which begs the question what were the "seven naval officers stationed close to where Parshukov died" doing?

Trained and experienced life guards are to expensive. So the boss decide he can organize himself at low cost.

Life is cheap in Thailand.

 

2 death, 6 saved by beach vendors and the count is on.

But do not worry in December their will be newly trained life guards and “After Oct. 20, the seas will be calm,” Watcharin said. “They won’t be violent like the monsoon transition period.”

Lifeguards obviously cost, i.e. are a burden, whereas parasailing, jet ski's etc produce brown envelopes, sounds reasonable to can them

 

Surprised there were lifeguards there at all. Try the Jomtien model: so much on makes a burkini look scandalous, majority of the time in clot of 4, looking at smart phones facing away from the beach. Probably qualified by being someone's nephew or patron's son. Which may explain why contract was not renewed in Phuket

Denial is a river in Africa- or a standard excuse here.

I was at patong beach in may  and there is no way I would be swimming in those waters.The water is rough big waves and common sense tells me to keep out.

12 minutes ago, globalspark said:

I was at patong beach in may  and there is no way I would be swimming in those waters.The water is rough big waves and common sense tells me to keep out.

Everybody knows , or should know , that many of Phuket's beaches are extremely dangerous during the monsoon season. Go swimming in the middle of October and you are taking a chance , lifeguards or not !

Is there everywhere and everything that is not dangerous in Thailand? Please advise......

Lifeguards?  What about first aid in case someone swallows some water there if it is near one of the famous sewer outlet's. 

A Thai denies...really? And when was the last time a Thai accepted blame and admitted fault?

42 minutes ago, joecoolfrog said:

Everybody knows , or should know , that many of Phuket's beaches are extremely dangerous during the monsoon season. Go swimming in the middle of October and you are taking a chance , lifeguards or not !

It is not the waves that are the killers, it is the incredible rip currents on Karon (and other beaches in that area) that the waves tend to hide !

Once you are out of contact with the sand underneath, you are heading out to sea at an unbelievable rate, and every beach really should have one guy out there on a surfboard or jetski for rescue purposes.

49 minutes ago, joecoolfrog said:

Everybody knows , or should know , that many of Phuket's beaches are extremely dangerous during the monsoon season. Go swimming in the middle of October and you are taking a chance , lifeguards or not !

And the governor states:

Quote

but the Russian tourist ignored the red flags posted the beach and ignored warnings from the guards.

From my short experience in Phuket last month I can only confirm.

Same with many of the Chinese who drowned.

 

Of course they are going to deny that the deaths are down to the lack of lifeguards. That would be a form of admitting responsibility, an event that is as uncommon in Thailand as a snowy day.

 

 

Off-topic post reported and removed.  

To be fair, someone needs to come up with comparison stats for this time last year (or per previous years)

 

that said... I doubt that the new plan will produce favorable results, and the officials responsible should be held accountable, if the death toll rises

 

being an international tourist destination, they should be throwing money at lifeguards, while they still have tourists to guard.

2 hours ago, wvavin said:

Is there everywhere and everything that is not dangerous in Thailand? Please advise......

I've never faced dangers in Thailand I wouldn't face in any other country on this planet - I've heard you can get medication for being hysterical though !!

'Watcharin said by phone. “He was very stubborn. He argued with the lifeguards.”'

 

Those being the non-existent lifeguards, or the part-time variant, who evidently aren't sufficiently persuasive?

Perhaps if they would be nice to spread out instead of sitting 5-8 lifegards together with their heads in there phones..... Same as Pattaya

I would blame the tourists for going into the water. If they are not strong and skilled, they should avoid it. It's dangerous. Never presume someone will come save you.

It is mostly stupid tourists killing themselves...  If you are unable to take responsibility for yourself, don't swim, don't drive/ride, basically don't live...

 

10 hours ago, nausea said:

What's the choreographed hands on hip pose about?

 

Ah, got it, these are probably the guys and gals that pulled him in from the sea, which begs the question what were the "seven naval officers stationed close to where Parshukov died" doing?

When people do not have pockets to put their hand into, they either put them on their hips or fold their arms. Folding arms is much more threatening and judgemental, especially when the women in my life are doing it.

5 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

It is not the waves that are the killers, it is the incredible rip currents on Karon (and other beaches in that area) that the waves tend to hide !

Once you are out of contact with the sand underneath, you are heading out to sea at an unbelievable rate, and every beach really should have one guy out there on a surfboard or jetski for rescue purposes.

Yes exactly , even strong swimmers can get into extreme trouble.

It may well be the shortage isn't to blame for the deaths but it sure as hell isn't helping keep people alive either... the whole thing is PATHETIC and we go through it year after year after year!!

One can't fix Stupid,,If you not sure Don't go in the ocean,,IF you Sure Don't go  in the ocean anyway,,Than you Don't go Dead (:

Some small things to remember: in some fields Thailand is not a first world country, so dont expect first world services. If the red flags are up, don't go in the water. If the locals tell you not to, don't go in the water. If you go in, make sure you know how to swim and save yourself. Simple.

The TAT promote Phuket as "A World Class Tourist Destination."

 

Yet, the reality is, Phuket has poor critical infrastructure, lacks facilities, has zero law enforcement, has little to no safety standards, with most officials being highly corrupt, and for this level of "service and amenity" here, you can expect to pay the highest prices in South East Asia, Singapore aside.   

 

It's 1st World advertising and marketing of a 3rd World product, that being, a holiday on Phuket. 

 

Phuket is all about maximum money coming in, for minimum money going out, with total disregard for devaluing "The Phuket Brand." 

 

One can only imagine what this place will be like 5 years from now.