Singaporean Tourist Drowned In Phuket

[george]

Singaporean tourist drowned in Phuket

PHUKET: -- A Singaporean tourist drowned while he and a friend were swimming in the Andaman sea at Phuket's Patong beach.

Chua Holk Beng, 34, was found dead while his friend, identified as Edwardgos Tingtos, 34, was rescued by a beach guard and is now recovering in hospital.

Both tourists arrived in Phuket for a seminar on tourism and stayed at a hotel near Patong beach.

Red warning flags have been placed on a number of Phuket beaches including Patong beach banning swimming for the safety of tourists due to high waves induced by southwest monsoon, now prevailing in the Andaman.

--TNA 2007-07-14

[donna]

lets hope nobody else loses their life. red flags are there so hopefully everyone else will heed the warning....

sad for the victims family.

[LivinginKata]

Just yesteday I actually witness a 'life guard' on Karon Beach trying to stop tourists swimming. Thes epeople just refused to listen to him and started swimming in horrendous conditions. No wonder folks drown here.

[seonai]

Happens every year and funnily enough it is often Koreans, Japanese and Chinese people who drown.

[LivinginKata]

Maybe just because there has been a recent upsurge in Asian tourists, BUT we get a fair share of Europeans and Aussies drowned over the years.

[Goldenbead]

The flags are up all along Naiharn beach as well and there are lots of people in the sea anyway. I witnessed a near drowning there a few years ago and my husband actually pulled the guy out of the water. Very scary indeed. A couple of weeks ago I went down there and the beach chair guy warned us about the conditions.

I can't understand why tourists ingnore warnings from people who know the local conditions. They come on holiday and leave their brains at home.

[Sir Burr]

Only good swimmers drown.

[thaigerd]

Only good swimmers drown.

why...........???

[dman]

Singaporean tourist drowned in Phuket

PHUKET: -- A Singaporean tourist drowned while he and a friend were swimming in the Andaman sea at Phuket's Patong beach.

Chua Holk Beng, 34, was found dead while his friend, identified as Edwardgos Tingtos, 34, was rescued by a beach guard and is now recovering in hospital.

Both tourists arrived in Phuket for a seminar on tourism and stayed at a hotel near Patong beach.

Red warning flags have been placed on a number of Phuket beaches including Patong beach banning swimming for the safety of tourists due to high waves induced by southwest monsoon, now prevailing in the Andaman.

--TNA 2007-07-14

Me and the better half are staying on Patong this week. I was a bit surprised when she told me someone had drowned yesterday. She overheard the locals gossip. I thought (until now) Patong was safe from rip currents. Last year we stayed at the Marriott on Mai Kao and that was a dangerous beach. Never saw any red warning flags on Patong yesterday, but then we are on the southern end of the beach. RIP.

[Sir Burr]

Only good swimmers drown.

why...........???

Because weak swimmers would never go in if there are rough conditions.

It's the over-confidence of good swimmers that kills them. They underestimate the undertow the beaches have in low season and overestimate their own strength and abilities.

I'm not a strong swimmer, so, I never go out of my depth and never swim in the off season.

[Ping]

Only good swimmers drown.

why...........???

I suppose what he is saying is that good swimmers can get themselves in situations (out of depth) where they think they are safe, but then a rip comes along and carries them away. I do not know whether this theory has been measured, but I would have thought that poor swimmers could just as easily get themselves into dangerous situations.

I don't mind going in if there is a strong rip about - I have done it countless times - but I never wander out beyond waste depth (which still lifts me on each wave - but the rollback undertow or convergence of currents is what carries people away). I see so many people go out deeper with (seemingly) little or no regard for the risk they are taking.

[JetsetBkk]

Happens every year and funnily enough it is often Koreans, Japanese and Chinese people who drown.

Probably because the bad weather coincides with the low season for Farangs and high season for kon Gowlea, Yippon and Chin.

[Ping]

Happens every year and funnily enough it is often Koreans, Japanese and Chinese people who drown.

Probably because the bad weather coincides with the low season for Farangs (snip)

Only if you are antipodean.

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: 3 Tourists drowned on Phuket beaches despite red flags warning the public not to swim.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214277

During July 15 – 16 the Metrological Department reported a moderate Southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea and southern Thailand. All ships in the Andaman Sea should proceed with caution.

At the major beaches on the island like Patong, Kata, Karon and Nai Harn beach guards have put up red flags warning the public and tourists not to swim due to high waves. They also attended the beaches with life saving gear.

However accidents still occurred at the weekend when 3 tourists drowned. On Sunday a Saudi Arabian Mr Suntan Alotpit, aged 34, drowned in Patong, while swimming with his wife. On Saturday a Russian female tourist drowned at Bangtao Bay, while a Singaporean drowned at Patong beach.

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast from Phuket City to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe later on Phuket Cable TV Channel 1, Monday 16 July 2007 & www.Thaisnews.com {Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied, but give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket or contact [email protected]}

---------------

Interview - 3 members of the Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club, from Sydney Australia

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214237

Our interview is with 3 members of the Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club, from Sydney Australia: John Mitchell - Vice President, Stephen Jelfs - Executive Member, and Alistair ‘Slim’ Peebles - Life Member. The Rotary Club of Laguna Phuket organized free Life Saving Training by 12 of their members at Dusit Laguna Resort. The Australians will also donate equipment & give more training to life guards at Patong next week, but first they explained more about their current training:

......

www.avocabeachslsc.asn.au

[email protected]

from Interview for Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast from Phuket City to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe later on Phuket Cable TV Channel 1, Thursday 12 July 2007 & www.Thaisnews.com {Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied, but give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket or contact [email protected]}

[LivinginKata]

Monday, July 16, 2007 - Phuket Gazette

Two more tourists drown

PHUKET: A Russian housewife and a Saudi Arabian man are the two latest drowning victims at Phuket beaches, where dangerous surf conditions have claimed the lives of three foreign tourists over the weekend.

Cherng Talay police received a report of a drowning at Bang Tao Beach about 5:45 pm on Saturday. Pol Lt Col Jessada Sangsuree of the Cherng Talay Police Station identified the victim as 43-year-old Ekaterina Burova, a Russian woman who was on holiday with friends and relatives.

“When I arrived at the scene she was already dead. I noticed red warning flags and some members of the beach guard in the area where her body was recovered, but I am not sure if she entered the sea where a beach guard was present,” he said.

The victim was swimming with her two children and one other relative when she started having difficulty staying on the surface of the water, and finally succumbed to the waves. Local people helped bring her body back to shore, but she could not be resuscitated, Col Jessada said.

Ms Burova’s body is being kept at Thalang Hospital.

The Russian Embassy have been notified and her family will fly her body back to Russia, where funeral services will be held, he said.

The third victim over the weekend was identified as 32-year-old Abrahi Altalt of Saudi Arabia, whose body was discovered at Patong Beach yesterday afternoon.

Pol Capt Padungpong Duksukkaew of the Kathu Police said Mr Altalt had traveled to Phuket with friends for a holiday.

His body was recovered after disappearing in heavy waves and later sent to Patong Hospital.

The Saudi Arabian Embassy has been notified, Capt Padungpong said.

The two drownings followed that of Singaporean Chua Holk Beng, 34, whose body was pulled from the surf at Patong Beach on Saturday afternoon along with that of a friend who was alive but unconscious to Patong Hospital.

[Dupont]

The problem with waves crashing is that the white water has a high percentage of air in it. Therefore you cannot float on it.

You float on water, but not on air! The more bubbles in the area of the wave crashing, the less likely you are to stay on top.

Keep out if it.

[Ping]

It is safe as long as you don't get out of wading depth and tremendous fun for horseplay with those waves crashing in. Just don't go in too far (beyond waist depth) and there will be no problems.

[Old Croc]

Happens every year and funnily enough it is often Koreans, Japanese and Chinese people who drown.

Probably because the bad weather coincides with the low season for Farangs (snip)

Only if you are antipodean.

Having a little trouble understanding your meaning.

Antipodes - two points on diametrically opposite sides of the earth. Antipodean - one who is from a part of the earth diametrically opposite.

Not sure where the diametrical opposite side of the world from Thailand is, nor when they have their low season.

Could you please explain your use of this word in this context?

[geoffphuket]

It is safe as long as you don't get out of wading depth and tremendous fun for horseplay with those waves crashing in. Just don't go in too far (beyond waist depth) and there will be no problems.

This is very bad advice for most of Phuket's beaches during monsoon season. Many people over the years have lost their lives doing exactly what you're saying is Ok . Undercurrents and large waves can knock you off your feet and take you out to sea in a flash

geoffphuket

[khall64au]

It is safe as long as you don't get out of wading depth and tremendous fun for horseplay with those waves crashing in. Just don't go in too far (beyond waist depth) and there will be no problems.

This is very bad advice for most of Phuket's beaches during monsoon season. Many people over the years have lost their lives doing exactly what you're saying is Ok . Undercurrents and large waves can knock you off your feet and take you out to sea in a flash

geoffphuket

Where are PHUKET LIFE SAVERS when international tourists need them in dangerous conditions on the beach ??

[Sir Burr]

Why should life-savers be on the beach when the red flags are up?

If you swim when there are clear warnings not to, you do so at your own peril.

[Prakanong]

Just sent this stroy to my boss as she is off to Phuket with her daughter soon and we discussed the sea there just last week.

I saw the Straits Times story and apparently he was just standing in the water and not swimming when a large wave pulled him and his colleague in!

Very sad indeed.

[Prakanong]

It is safe as long as you don't get out of wading depth and tremendous fun for horseplay with those waves crashing in. Just don't go in too far (beyond waist depth) and there will be no problems.

This is very bad advice for most of Phuket's beaches during monsoon season. Many people over the years have lost their lives doing exactly what you're saying is Ok . Undercurrents and large waves can knock you off your feet and take you out to sea in a flash

geoffphuket

Totally agree Geoff - the report in the Straits Times said he was doing exactly that - standing in waist deep water with the waves crashing around when the undercurrent took him and his pal from under.

[steelepulse]

>>Where are PHUKET LIFE SAVERS when international tourists need them in dangerous conditions on the beach ??

At least in Kata, the lifeguards get someone who is on a surfboard to help out, then when the person who was in trouble is brought in, the lifeguards hurry over and take the credit.  It's been like this for a number of low seasons now there. Friends of mine have literally saved over 15 lives in the last 5 years there.

[geriatrickid]

Where are PHUKET LIFE SAVERS when international tourists need them in dangerous conditions on the beach ??

A lifeguard can't do much for someone without common sense. How difficult is it to understand that monsoon season + water = danger? As tragic as it is, I believe it unfair to shift responsibility from the swimmer(s) for the deaths.

[Ping]

Fair enough - I retract any suggestion that anyone else should enter the water when the red flags are up. It is undoubtedly unsafe beyond a certain point, and those who are not familiar with the rip/currents could get into trouble quite easily and would be best advised to not venture in at all. The message should now be clear to all and I apologise to BMs for impugning that message.