American drowns off Karon Beach

KARON: -- Despite relatively calm conditions at the time, an American man drowned at Karon Beach Tuesday afternoon.

Chalong Police Duty Officer Sanguan Muangtham identified the deceased as 54-year-old Michael Stephen Jones, holder of an American passport.

At around 4:30 pm on Wednesday, tourists and members of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Beach Guard noticed Mr Jones was in trouble about 20 meters offshore, off the stretch of beach near Karon Circle.

Lt Col Sanguan said, “When members of the beach guard and others pulled him out he was still alive. People at the scene said he died on the beach, not in the sea. We will have to wait for the autopsy report to know the exact cause of death.”

Mr Jones was at the beach with a Russian woman who police presumed to be his girlfriend. She had yet to be questioned by police, Lt Col Sanguan said.

“There were no red warning flags up at the time and I saw many other people swimming there on Tuesday, so I don’t think the conditions were as dangerous as they normally are at this time of year,” he said.

Mr Jones' body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for examination.

The American Embassy has been informed of his passing, he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2008-09-25

Please TV members, Learn CPR and Rescue Breathing.

You never know when it might come in handy.

I think I'll go in for a refresher course.

if he died on the beach then he did'nt drown,chances are he had a heart attach,poor sod

Please TV members, Learn CPR and Rescue Breathing.

You never know when it might come in handy.

I think I'll go in for a refresher course.

Where will you do the refresher course and how much does it cost?

Please post as you are correct, everybody should know this.

If anybody is looking to do a CPR first aid course drop in any dive shop and ask. They run firt aid, secondry care, CPR and first aid for children courses. Lazeeboy just because he was alive when pulled onto the beach doesnt mean he didnt drown. You can drown several hours later so its important that people seek medical attention after a near drowning experience.

Secondary drowning is a condition where water, or other fluids, has entered the lungs but the person may be conscious and not fully aware of what has occurred. This also sometimes happens with a near drowning victim. That is, prior to being pulled out of the water they inhale fluid into their lungs.

The general warning signs for secondary drowning include: coughing; trouble breathing; pain in the lungs or chest especially when taking a deep breath; and a feeling of swallowing or inhaling water.

It is vital that this person get medical attention as quickly as possible. As the name implies, the person can drown even several hours later as the fluid in the lungs impairs the breathing process. Water also will damage the inside surface of the lung, collapse the alveoli and cause a hardening of the lungs which will reduce the ability to exchange air.

I think everybody should be taught these skills at school. At some stage it may be you needing the treatment. Ive also found the main thing which stops people frm helping is the fear of making things worse. I always tell them if a person is not breathing and has no pulse you cannot make thins any worse than they already are and can only help !