Drownings Continue In Phuket: Italian, Thai Dead

[george]

Drownings continue in Phuket: Italian, Thai dead

Even in the low season Patong Beach remains popular with tourists,

some of whom continue to ignore the red warning flags and die.

File photo.

PHUKET CITY: -- An Italian tourist and a Thai recreational fisherman are Phuket’s two most recent drowning victims.

Kathu Police were notified at 5pm on Monday that Italian national Antonio Salvatorebucca, 46, went missing in the surf at Patong Beach, across from the Thara Patong Beach Resort.

The report was made by a friend of the deceased, 39-year-old Italian Zanchetta Gianluca.

Kathu Police Inspector Sophon Borrirak said the victim had arrived in Phuket from Italy with a group of friends the day before, intending to holiday in Phuket, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai.

Keen to swim, Mr Salvatorebucca ignored warnings about dangerous rip currents from both friends and members of the local beach guard.

As his friends were enjoying themselves on the beach, he wandered into the sea on his own.

He was soon hit by a large wave and disappeared beneath the surface, in view of friends and other tourists who were unable to assist him in time.

A five-hour search by Marine Police frogmen, beach guard members and volunteers proved fruitless.

Mr Salvatorebucca’s body finally washed ashore five hours later and was immediately identified by his friends.

Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers took his remains to Patong Hospital for examination and repatriation.

In the second case, Cherng Talay Police early Sunday morning received a report that the body of a Thai man reported missing two days before had washed ashore at Surin Beach.

Rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation recovered the body and took it to the Thalang Hospital morgue for examination.

Pol Capt Amnuaywit Markkhutod of the Cherng Talay Police identified the deceased as 32-year-old Prawit Phadaeng, a native of Nong Bua Lamphu.

Mr Prawit’s body was recovered about half a kilometer from where he was reported missing by friends two days before.

Friends told police that a group of them were fishing off the rocks in Cherng Talay Village 3 when a large wave crashed onto Mr Prawit, who fell into the surf and disappeared beneath the surface.

Efforts by the friends to find and save Mr Prawit failed and his disappearance was reported to police.

Mr Prawit’s bloated body was discovered by villagers at dawn on Sunday, Capt Amnuaywit said.

The police contacted Mr Prawit’s family, who are making funeral arrangements.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-08-12

[petercallen]

When you see the surf and undertow on the beaches on the west side of phuket this time of the year it amazes me people can be stupid enough to go into the water

[sungate]

When you see the surf and undertow on the beaches on the west side of phuket this time of the year it amazes me people can be stupid enough to go into the water

Amazes me too. It seems everyone thinks that he or she is immune to the danger, somehow invincible against the local waters no matter how fully warned they might be. Or maybe they think that those who post the red flags are just overly-cautious wimps. But if you've ever been caught in a heavy undertow and carried out to sea, as I once experienced in the Caribbean, you know how helpless the situation is and how utterly terrifying it can be.

[Scott]

My condolences to the family and friends of the victims.