Close call at Patong Beach: Tourist’s life saved by vigilant lifeguards

A hazardous rip current at Patong Beach, Phuket, nearly claimed the life of a foreign tourist on Monday. Thanks to the swift and skilled response from Patong Beach’s lifeguards, the individual was safely brought back to shore and revived.

The beach was already under lifeguard surveillance due to the rip current threat when the victim was found unconscious in the water. Despite the posted red flags indicating unsafe swimming conditions and lifeguards’ advisories against entering the water, the individual found himself caught in the perilous current. A designated safe swim area marked by yellow-red flags was ignored.

At approximately 1.10pm, lifeguards managed to bring the unconscious man to shore in Patong. Immediate CPR was administered and continued until an ambulance arrived to transport him to Patong Hospital. Subsequent updates revealed that the man’s pulse had stabilised and he had been moved to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town for further treatment.

Patong Surf Life Saving, the local lifeguard organisation, expressed their gratitude to the medical staff at Patong Hospital and praised their efforts in reviving the patient. The support provided by the nursing team was particularly commended for being extremely helpful.

By Neill Fronde

Caption: Picture courtesy of Patong Surf Life Saving

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/swift-lifeguard-action-saves-tourist-from-lethal-rip-current-in-patong