Red flags line Phuket beaches as dangerous surf broils

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

Red flags now line Surin Beach, marking there are no lifeguards and that the surf is too dangerous to swim. Photo: Supplied
 

PHUKET:-- Surin Beach has been closed to swimmers in the current weather as the beach has no lifeguards and the strong waves and flash rips are considered too dangerous to risk tourists entering the water, Chief of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor), MaAnn Samran, told The Phuket News today (July 19).
 

“We have posted red flags along the entire length of Surin Beach. They will remain there until we have real lifeguards on duty,” Mr MaAnn said.

 

“The red flags have been posted because I want to warn tourists to please not go into water at this time. I don’t want to use the words ‘beach closed’, but the red flags are a warning meaning that it is dangerous.

Full Story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/red-flags-line-phuket-beaches-as-dangerous-surf-broils-72204.php#OYCsOSSfHmPkITSp.97

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2019-07-19

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12 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“We have posted red flags along the entire length of Surin Beach. They will remain there until we have real lifeguards on duty,” Mr MaAnn said. 

No lifeguards on duty. Is this the lifeguards that cannot work until they have sorted out a legal contract?

Please carry on putting people's lives at risk until bureaucracy deems otherwise.

What was that today about attracting tourists to come and visit a safe Thailand?

I don't think they ever found the poor Filipino couple (tourists) that went swimming/missing the other day.  Lifeguards on beaches should be a priority, not a luxury.

Yes get out of the water and onto the tour boats your swimming lessons will start now????

Flags are much cheaper than qualified LG's, wouldn't surprise if they're left there until the end of the wet, ocean goes back to being a mill pond, no LG's required, money in the pocket....

3 minutes ago, beechbum said:

Flags are much cheaper than qualified LG's, wouldn't surprise if they're left there until the end of the wet, ocean goes back to being a mill pond, no LG's required, money in the pocket....

That sounds like the most realistic approach that could well be adopted here.

Plus, bonuses all round - using the allocated but not used lifeguard budget.

Most beaches (around the world) do not have LGs. Having one present at Phuket beaches is not going to make the hazardous surf conditions any better.

 

Simple rule of thumb... if you cannot swim, or even know how to manage a rip tide, then please stay out of the water.

8 minutes ago, Gumballl said:

Most beaches (around the world) do not have LGs. Having one present at Phuket beaches is not going to make the hazardous surf conditions any better.

 

Simple rule of thumb... if you cannot swim, or even know how to manage a rip tide, then please stay out of the water.

Agreed, but you're using ferang logic there.

It seems that quite a few nationalities don't seem to employ the same thinking - not that I'm defending them.
 

Is Thailand perhaps becoming a 'nanny state', by (supposedly) employing lifeguards to assist people who can't use common sense?

I read there's a red flag flying indicating no swimming? IIRC, are there signs explaining the meaning of the red flag in multiple languages?
Having said that, you still can't force people to read any signs or take notice of them.

Is that a log or a person next to the flag? If human, the sun couldn't make her/him any more tanned. What's the point?

 

2 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Is that a log or a person next to the flag? If human, the sun couldn't make her/him any more tanned. What's the point?

 

Poo Ying getting her arse tanned

1 hour ago, Vacuum said:

Is that a log or a person next to the flag? If human, the sun couldn't make her/him any more tanned. What's the point?

 

Iguana.

3 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Iguana.

I think it might be a Komodo dragon that's just  eaten the only European on the beach.

The item to the left of the flag looks suspicious too.