American Man Swept Into The Sea, Wife And Child Rescued In Phuket

[webfact]

 

PHUKET lifeguards spent more than four hours searching for an American man swept into the sea by strong waves off Nai Harn beach in Phuket last evening (June 9) but managed to quickly rescue his Thai wife and child, Thai Rath newspaper said early this morning.

 

Lifeguards at this beach together with Rawai subdistrict rescue unit and Phuket Charity Foundation members searched for the tourists from dusk to midnight but had to then stop because it was completely dark and the waves very strong.

 

Mr. Arun Solas, mayor of Rawai Subdistrict, said after being alerted about this incident he quickly coordinated with relevant agencies to help search for them.

 

by TNR Staff

Rescuers at Nai Harn beach last night. Photo: Thai Rath

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-06-10

 

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[Gottfrid]

Such a terrible thing. A wife lost her husband and a child her father. Let´s hope for a miracle, but will unfortunately be 1 in a million.

[hotchilli]

If it's rough stick to a pool.

[snoop1130]

Search continues for American missing at Nai Harn Beach

 

 

Police in Phuket are intensifying their search for an American who went missing after being swept away by waves at Nai Harn Beach. Strong winds and high waves are hindering rescue efforts, with lifeguards raising red flags to warn against swimming. His wife, 49 year old Siriaamorn Petchraawut, hopes for a miracle.

 

The 49 year old American father, James Everett du Bois, and his three year old son went missing at Nai Harn Beach in Rawai, Phuket. Lifeguards were able to rescue the boy but du Bois was pulled into the waters by a strong rip current and is still missing.

 

Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation’s diving team searched the waters but had to halt the operation due to rough sea conditions. By 8.30pm, the dive team ceased their search for safety reasons, given the strong waves and winds making underwater search operations perilous.

 

Reporters on the scene observed that Rawai Municipality had established a special search centre at Nai Harn Beach. Multiple agencies are now involved in the search for James along the coastline.

 

Lifeguards continue to place red flags along the beach to warn against swimming, as the turbulent sea conditions persist, posing significant challenges to the search efforts.

Siriaamorn recounted the incident, stating that they arrived at the beach at 4pm. It was a usual Sunday activity for the family. However, the waves seemed particularly strong that day.

 

Dangerous conditions

 

Du Bois had taken his son into the water first. Siriaamorn tested the water herself and found it normal at first, noting that many children were playing nearby. Initially, the beach was marked with yellow and red flags, but these were later changed to red flags, indicating dangerous conditions.

 

She described how James, being tall, took their son further out to play despite the deteriorating weather. Siriaamorn noticed the change in the water conditions and decided to bring them back to shore.

 

Upon her realisation that her husband and son had gone missing, she attempted to locate him within the crowd of tourists. But like a needle in a haystack, she was unable to find him who had gone missing in just five minutes.

 

However, lifeguards were able to rescue their son. Siriaamorn hopes for a miracle to locate the boy’s father, stating that he is a family man who left his job to be with his family in Phuket, reported Khaosod.

 

The family’s routine Sunday outing turned into a tragic and desperate search, with hopes pinned on the possibility of James being found alive. The search efforts continue but the challenging sea conditions make the situation increasingly dire.

 

The incident has drawn attention to the dangers present at beaches during rough weather, emphasising the importance of heeding safety warnings and flag signals.

 

By Ryan Turner

Image courtesy of Khaosod

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-10

 

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[RT555]

I used to swim in Hawaii, don't try to fight the currents, stay afloat, build your lungs, relax and somebody will come get you.

I was swept down the Kahala coast for over  a mile.....

[Baz Erckens]

I was at Nai Harn yesterday pretty much at the same time. Waves and currents were really strong. Gotta respect nature's force.

[thesetat2013]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The incident has drawn attention to the dangers present at beaches during rough weather, emphasising the importance of heeding safety warnings and flag signals.

Why hasn't it drawn attention to the lifeguards not getting people out of the water before someone like this happens? Is this not what lifeguards are supposed to do? Call you into the shore when the swimming becomes dangerous. Christ, the lifeguards took the time to change the flags but forgot the people. 

[Baz Erckens]

41 minutes ago, thesetat2013 said:

Why hasn't it drawn attention to the lifeguards not getting people out of the water before someone like this happens? Is this not what lifeguards are supposed to do? Call you into the shore when the swimming becomes dangerous. Christ, the lifeguards took the time to change the flags but forgot the people. 

Geez, talk more bs please.

 

I don't know if you have ever been to Nai Harn (apparently not) but they are constantly blowing their whistle trying to get people out of the water or direct them to the dedicated red/yellow area for swimming. People just ignore them, keep on swimming in the dedicated surfers area or the red flag area in general.

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, thesetat2013 said:

Why hasn't it drawn attention to the lifeguards not getting people out of the water before someone like this happens? Is this not what lifeguards are supposed to do? Call you into the shore when the swimming becomes dangerous. Christ, the lifeguards took the time to change the flags but forgot the people. 

"Why hasn't it drawn attention to the lifeguards not getting people out of the water before someone like this happens"

You really don't know whether they tried or not.

[cowellandrew]

4 hours ago, Baz Erckens said:

Geez, talk more bs please.

 

I don't know if you have ever been to Nai Harn (apparently not) but they are constantly blowing their whistle trying to get people out of the water or direct them to the dedicated red/yellow area for swimming. People just ignore them, keep on swimming in the dedicated surfers area or the red flag area in general.

Thais blowing whistles is a national pastime try walking down a st in Bangkok and you have a bloke blowing a whistle to park your car,

Sit down in a go go and some of the ladies 

Can whistle. 

Me coming from Devon I had to whistle to get the cows or sheep in!

 

[josephbloggs]

4 hours ago, Baz Erckens said:

Geez, talk more bs please.

 

I don't know if you have ever been to Nai Harn (apparently not) but they are constantly blowing their whistle trying to get people out of the water or direct them to the dedicated red/yellow area for swimming. People just ignore them, keep on swimming in the dedicated surfers area or the red flag area in general.

I agree. I have been at Nai Harn in conditions like this. The yellow and red flags we really close together and they were only letting people go in a narrow area where they could see what was going on and intervene. Sadly people do think they can go where they want and they do their best to control it.

Inside those two flags was really rough. Outside the flags was just too dangerous. RIP to the poor guy, so sad.

And to think there's one idiot who constantly posts on here that Thailand doesn't have dangerous seas or currents.

[ChaiyaTH]

6 hours ago, thesetat2013 said:

Why hasn't it drawn attention to the lifeguards not getting people out of the water before someone like this happens? Is this not what lifeguards are supposed to do? Call you into the shore when the swimming becomes dangerous. Christ, the lifeguards took the time to change the flags but forgot the people. 

You mean what idiot adult, with a wife and child, ignores the international known red flags, repeatedly.  This happens what? weekly? Even by the eye as a amateur one can tell it is rough or not in the sea.

 

Seen so many tourists thinking they were cool, going into the ocean, when storms start... Is a miracle most times they get out.

[Stargeezr]

If people ignore the red flags, then they are responsible to whatever happens to themselves, like drowning etc.

   Rip tides are not fatal if you stay calm and swim with the current. You will make it back to shore

eventually. Panic and die is the other choice.

[spidermike007]

Totally reckless and callous behavior on the part of this man. The sea can be extremely dangerous and very powerful. Only the strongest swimmers can wage battle against a powerful riptide. Those warnings are there for a reason. This man ignored any sense of caution, and took a huge chance with his son and family. He paid the ultimate price. Most of us would exercise great caution, under those circumstances. It is a tragic outcome but Darwin was right. 

[Hummin]

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Totally reckless and callous behavior on the part of this man. The sea can be extremely dangerous and very powerful. Only the strongest swimmers can wage battle against a powerful riptide. Those warnings are there for a reason. This man ignored any sense of caution, and took a huge chance with his son and family. He paid the ultimate price. Most of us would exercise great caution, under those circumstances. It is a tragic outcome but Darwin was right. 

As long you can swim, you will make it f you not fight it. Just let the rip tide take you out, swim across to one of the sides. But the problem is when people panic, and fight it. 

[spidermike007]

32 minutes ago, Hummin said:

As long you can swim, you will make it f you not fight it. Just let the rip tide take you out, swim across to one of the sides. But the problem is when people panic, and fight it. 

You are speaking of swimming skills. Many can swim, but do not possess swimming skills, or are not strong swimmers, nor critical thinkers. That appears to be the case with this man and his lost son. 

 

Sometimes a mistake is wearing white after Labor day in NYC to a formal event. 

 

Sometimes a mistake is invading Russia, with the winter approaching. 

 

This fool gambled with his life and the lives of his family, yet as a parent and spouse, was responsible for protecting them. 

[it is what it is]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Totally reckless and callous behavior on the part of this man. The sea can be extremely dangerous and very powerful. Only the strongest swimmers can wage battle against a powerful riptide. Those warnings are there for a reason. This man ignored any sense of caution, and took a huge chance with his son and family. He paid the ultimate price. Most of us would exercise great caution, under those circumstances. It is a tragic outcome but Darwin was right. 

 

Only the strongest swimmers can wage battle against a powerful riptide

 

you don't battle against a rip tide, quite the opposite in fact. remain calm and stay afloat, call for help, if no help available swim parallel to the shore to get out of the rip. anyone who lives by the sea knows this, one of the first things my aussie BIL taught me when i arrived in aus.

[ezzra]

A reminiscence of Dr. Michael Mosley untimely death walking alone in a searing heat and in an area he's not familiar with,

feeling unwell, getting lost and with no phone, dying of exhaustion on what was suppose to be a short walk, he too clearly,

wasn't aware of him limitations and didn't take into an account the rough terrain, it is pity to lose such a good and

helpful person liked my many...

[bg53]

RIP.

 

And don't smear the Thai lifeguards. They did everything they could and rescued the boy.

[stevenl]

4 hours ago, Stargeezr said:

If people ignore the red flags, then they are responsible to whatever happens to themselves, like drowning etc.

   Rip tides are not fatal if you stay calm and swim with the current. You will make it back to shore

eventually. Panic and die is the other choice.

 

3 hours ago, Hummin said:

As long you can swim, you will make it f you not fight it. Just let the rip tide take you out, swim across to one of the sides. But the problem is when people panic, and fight it. 

Rips took him further out, but there were also high waves. A really dangerous combination causing no visibility.

[brianthainess]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

, with lifeguards raising red flags to warn against swimming.

Was this after he went missing ?

[brianthainess]

7 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

And to think there's one idiot who constantly posts on here that Thailand doesn't have dangerous seas or currents.

Glad you brought that <deleted> up, I was going to mention that fool too, maybe he has drowned.

[brianthainess]

4 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

Only the strongest swimmers can wage battle against a powerful riptide

 

you don't battle against a rip tide, quite the opposite in fact. remain calm and stay afloat, call for help, if no help available swim parallel to the shore to get out of the rip. anyone who lives by the sea knows this, one of the first things my aussie BIL taught me when i arrived in aus.

Agree I don't think I have ever heard of Ozzys drowning here. 

[ChipButty]

13 hours ago, thesetat2013 said:

Why hasn't it drawn attention to the lifeguards not getting people out of the water before someone like this happens? Is this not what lifeguards are supposed to do? Call you into the shore when the swimming becomes dangerous. Christ, the lifeguards took the time to change the flags but forgot the people. 

Stop being a KH the lifeguard got the kid out and went back to find the guy risking his own life, 

The American was at fault here not the lifeguard, I was down at that beach this morning and it's wild, 

[ChipButty]

23 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Agree I don't think I have ever heard of Ozzys drowning here. 

They just drink themselves to death here

[ChipButty]

34 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Was this after he went missing ?

No, they are there all the time, 

[brianthainess]

3 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

No, they are there all the time, 

ALL the time ? really RED FLAGS ?

[ChaiyaTH]

8 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

ALL the time ? really RED FLAGS ?

Yes most beaches that are the most populair do it in Thailand, even more in Phuket. Of course not every single tiny beach but that is also rarely where this happens, it is often at the mainstream locations, where they do have them.

[ChipButty]

6 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

ALL the time ? really RED FLAGS ?

Seems like it, especially when all the boats go and the winds change direction this morning was nice but wild, 

[thailandsgreat]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

No, they are there all the time, 

Then the flags are useless. If there are red flags all the time, then the beach should be closed