Tourist Dies After Kata Swim

[ScubaBuddha]

At about 11am Saturday, I was at Kata Beach when I heard a siren approach, then stop. So I looked down the beach and in front of Kata Beach Resort was a "circle of death.", a crowd of onlookers near the water. Ambulance crews quickly whisked someone away. An online news source is running the story. They say it was a 37 year old Russian man who, after going for a swim, returned to his lounger and had some kind of an attack. Witnesses say his arms went stiff, his eyes rolled back, and he began foaming at the mouth. By the sound of it it could have been a stroke or heart attack, but a bad reaction to venomous marine life might cause that too. The sea was calm that morning. Police are investigating.

[Atmos]

according to a newspaper website death was 'secondary drowning' got his from a website:

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 . . . and more at: Secondary Drowning definition but briefly their example is:

unconscious and foaming at the mouth - died of a heart attack on the way to the hospital - preliminary autopsy showed the cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning.

been involved in swimming and water safety a long time and have never encountered this, or even remember it being mentioned at training.

[LivinginKata]

Drowning confirmed as cause of Russian tourist death

Phuket's Kata Beach is a favorite among Scandinavians and Eastern Europeans seeking to escape frigid winter conditions back home. File photo.

PHUKET: Autopsy results have confirmed drowning as the cause of death of Russian tourist Andrey Khabrin, who appeared to suffer a seizure after swimming at Kata Beach on Saturday morning.

Mr Khabrin, 37, fainted after swimming in front of the Kata Beach Resort, where he, his wife and a cousin were staying on holiday.

After he lost consciousness, he was rushed to the intensive care unit of Patong Hospital where doctors were unable to revive him.

Pol Lt Anukul Nuket of the Chalong Police told the Gazette this morning that autopsy had confirmed drowning as the cause of death.

Cases of ‘secondary drowning’, sometimes described as ‘dry drowning’, are rare but not unknown.

A ten-year-old boy in South Carolina died in June last year of secondary drowning a full hour after ingesting water into his lungs while swimming.

Secondary drowning can result when fluid accumulates in the lungs.

This can lead to respiratory failure and death if not treated promptly.

Even very small amounts of water entering the lungs can be fatal.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-12-14

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[ScubaBuddha]

2m beach break and full beaches yesterday with no guards. Surprised the body count hasn't risen.