Body of missing Belgian man found after ignoring red flag in Phuket

[webfact]

 

A Belgian man drowned after ignoring a red flag warning on Freedom Beach in Phuket. Thai netizens’ opinions were divided. Some expressed condolences to his family, while others condemned him for being reckless and causing trouble to rescuers.

 

According to a Phuket Times report on June 22, two accidents were reported on Kata and Freedom beaches. In the first incident, two victims got into trouble in the sea after violating the warning sign on Kata Beach but lifeguards managed to help them safely.

 

Four other victims ignored the red flag on Kata Beach on the same day. Among the four individuals involved in the incident, two were identified as a Yemeni man and a Belgian man, while the other two chose to keep their nationalities private. Lifeguards successfully rescued three of the victims, but the Belgian man remained missing.

Rescue teams have been searching for the Belgian man, identified as 28 year old Luvovadio Allan Deraut, since the day of the incident, but have so far been unsuccessful in locating him.

The strong waves and winds have raised concerns among Thai netizens for the safety of the rescue team. Many have expressed their support and encouragement for the rescuers, while others have criticised the tourists for recklessly endangering the lives of the rescue workers.

 

“I feel sorry for the rescuers who have to be in danger because of these ignorant people. There was a red flag on the beach. Some of the flags could not even stand the strong wind, why did you dare to swim?”

 

“I would like to give encouragement to all lifeguards on the beach.”

 

“I think authorities must close all the beaches or find a better solution. If not, more losses will be reported.”

“Those tourists walked into danger by themselves.”

 

“Why are foreigners so stubborn? Relevant authorities must put up a big sign to explain the red flag. Some beachgoers may not understand its meaning.”

 

The Phuket Times reported today, June 24, that the body of Deraut was washed up on Freedom Beach at about 4.30am after two days of disappearance. His body will be transferred to a hospital for an autopsy.

 

by Petch Petpailin 

Photo via Facebook/ Phuket Times ภูเก็ตไทม์

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-06-24

 

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[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Why are foreigners so stubborn?

I have been asking that many times. Yet, it´s just arriving another nutcase after another.

[RayOday]

A number of years ago I went swimming off Karon Beach. I am an experienced swimmer. There were no red flags. I recognized a few very strong discrete under tow currents. The conditions were clearly unsafe for novice, weak, and children swimmers. One needs to exercise caution even with no red flags or low wave height. Don't swim in dicey waters especially if you are under the influence of any intoxicants. Common sense. Use it.

Edited June 24 by RayOday

[Tropicalevo]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

while others have criticised the tourists for recklessly endangering the lives of the rescue workers.

I wonder if the 'others' realise that it is not intentional.

No one goes swimming thinking 'I hope that I need rescuing today'.

[cardinalblue]

Stupid is what stupid does…nothing to do with stubbornness 

 

nature always bats last….some day man will be extinct on the earth so I will have it all to myself 

[Stargeezr]

I have been to Thailand many times as well as hawaii, and Yes the red flag means danger all over the world, so if

stupid people ignore it and go drown in the ocean, I have little sympathy for them. I do feel sorry that their friends

and families have to suffer because of their ignorance costing them their lives.

[freedomnow]

I think simply they do not know the red flag system, or even register it as they step-in.

[morrobay]

On 6/28/2024 at 12:35 AM, freedomnow said:

I think simply they do not know the red flag system, or even register it as they step-in.

Belgians would not be experienced ocean swimmers among alot of other Europeans and Russians. Another mistake is not wearing fins. But being inexperienced he would not realize this. From the photos and videos I've seen these are not big waves at  all,,(by California metrics) I can see what the Phuket problem is: The coast geography there is a series.of small bays bordered by points at both ends. The SW monsoon swells come into those coves/bays at slight angle. It comes in and causes a sweeping side rip along shore. When this water starts piling up at the other point. It has to go outbound. All these inexperienced people would have to do is just go for a ride outside and wait to be picked up . There are also probably some textbook rips. Again its not the big waves it's the rips. So only go out with fins so you can power through a rip

Edited June 29 by morrobay

[zzzzz]

 

Quote

 

.......Another mistake is not wearing fins.

 

 

 

who wears fins in the water outside of body borders or body surfers?
FYI
its the currents that pull them out an the rips exhausts them when they fight it 

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

Biggest problem in Phuket is they do NOT use yellow flags but only red ones
People go in when the red flags are out, see its not bad and others go in and than always go in when its red, which at times ....IS BAD

IF they did their jobs and used the yellow flags things would be different.

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

wondering

If someone dies swimming when the red flags are out
Is it classified as a suicide? 

Edited June 29 by zzzzz

[morrobay]

44 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

 

who wears fins in the water outside of body borders or body surfers?
FYI
its the currents that pull them out an the rips exhausts them when they fight it 

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

 

I think I'm qualified to evaluate and advise 

[stevenl]

2 hours ago, morrobay said:

Belgians would not be experienced ocean swimmers among alot of other Europeans and Russians. Another mistake is not wearing fins. But being inexperienced he would not realize this. From the photos and videos I've seen these are not big waves at  all,,(by California metrics) I can see what the Phuket problem is: The coast geography there is a series.of small bays bordered by points at both ends. The SW monsoon swells come into those coves/bays at slight angle. It comes in and causes a sweeping side rip along shore. When this water starts piling up at the other point. It has to go outbound. All these inexperienced people would have to do is just go for a ride outside and wait to be picked up . There are also probably some textbook rips. Again its not the big waves it's the rips. So only go out with fins so you can power through a rip

Belgium has a quite extended coastline with lots of swimmers.

Swimmers don't wear fins.

The waves are more than high enough to make someone invisible from sure or water, even from a higher vantage point like a jetski 

[josephbloggs]

 

On 6/28/2024 at 12:35 AM, freedomnow said:

I think simply they do not know the red flag system, or even register it as they step-in.

I think that is true. I came extremely close to drowning off Kata beach in about 1997/1998. Caught in a rip and dragged out to sea and didn't know how to deal with it and tried to fight it. I was very very lucky to get back to shore, exhausted.

I don't recall if there were red flags out or not but even if there were I obviously didn't know what they meant or didn't notice them.

Since that day I obviously learnt a lot about rips, how to spot them, how to survive them, and obviously know the flag system. But to presume everyone should automatically know is just wrong. I think there were drownings earlier this year on Kata of people from a European land locked country (can't remember where) and they obviously wouldn't know any better. The waves are not massive, they look like fun, but you can be quickly in trouble.

A few years ago I was in Nai Harn in rough conditions. Red flags flying along the beach, red and yellows set up in maybe a 30m section so people could go in under lifeguard supervision and they were furiously going after anyone who tried to enter the water in the red flagged areas.

[freedomnow]

5 hours ago, morrobay said:

I think I'm qualified to evaluate and advise 

You may be, but simply I think people who drown are probably unaware of the flag system and its meaning to stay out the water...