Phuket surf claims lives of Russian, Chinese tourists within hours

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Phuket surf claims lives of Russian, Chinese tourists within hours
Phuket Gazette


Phuket tourists brave the waves, despite red warning flags marking the area as a ‘no swimming zone’ at Karon Beach. Photo: Leslie Porterfield

PHUKET: -- Two tourists, a Chinese and a Russian, drowned within hours of each other yesterday at Karon Beach, on Phuket’s west coast.

Lifeguards reported that both tourists ignored red warning flags marking the area as dangerous to swim.

Oleg Ozerskikh, 52, was pulled from the water unconscious by lifeguards at Karon Beach (map here), at about 11:30am.

Rescue workers sped him to Patong Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

“Mr Ozerskikh checked into the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa on October 14. He was to check out on Sunday,” Ratthapol Deethongon of the Karon Police told the Phuket Gazette.

“Mr Ozerskikh was swimming in front of the hotel, where red warning flags were posted. He was rushed to hospital, but he died on the way,” he added.

By 3:30pm, lifeguards at the beach pulled Chinese tourist Liu Haifeng, 33, from the water.

Mr Liu was also rushed to Patong Hospital, where he too was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mr Liu and his girlfriend were staying at the Movenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket, said Lt Ratthapol.

“They both could not swim. Lifeguards said they warned them about the dangerous rip currents, but the couple did not believe them and ignored the red flags.

“Mr Liu was caught in a rip current. Lifeguards managed to bring him back to the beach and he was rushed to hospital, but he died en route,” Lt Ratthapol explained.

Police confirmed to the Gazette that the Russian and Chinese embassies in Bangkok were notified of the incidents.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-surf-claims-lives-of-Russian-Chinese-tourists-within-hours-22598.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-10-25

[LivinginKata]

It's very sad that even mores lives have been lost by folks who have no appreciation at all about the power of nature.

[eezergood]

It's very sad that even mores lives have been lost by folks who have no appreciation at all about the power of nature.

Correct - take on mother nature at your peril!

[NomadJoe]

There are a lot of signs and flags along the beaches now, plus the lifeguards warnings. I would say this has reduced the number of drownings lately. But right now we are moving into high season and hotel occupancy is rising, but the waves are still up on the west coast. Some drownings are going to be inevitable when you mix people and water. The hotels can always do more to warn visitors, but short of closing the beaches there might not be much more that can be done.

The late actor/writer Spalding Gray did a great monologue of his time in Thailand and Cambodia called Swimming to Cambodia. In it he chronicles adventures he had during the filming of The Killing Fields, in which he had a minor role. In the monologue he talks about visiting Karon Beach during the movies filming in 1983. He says that he thought we was going to drown for certain. Brilliant but troubled, sadly, Gray succumbed to his own personal demons in 2004.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JboW8AHE7A

[stevenl]

<snip>, but the waves are still up on the west coast. <snip>

A few days already no surf to speak of at Kata, even went for a dive today.

[canopus1969]

As my old Chief would say, 'you can allow for fools but not bloody fools'

[Aachen]

The red flag is taken as a contribute to communism and the warning of the Life Guard was not in an understandable language of the inexperienced tourists, who even could not swim!

Edited October 25, 2013 by Aachen

[Wimbledon]

DO THEY HAVE LIFE GUARDS THERE? The reason i ask where i lived in the caribbean there were a couple of dangerous spots , and the odd drowning would occur , as there were not any lifeguards . ( and theone sign that was place in particular area fell down not to be place back for quite a long spell! Language barriers and paridise . .Too bad for them and the end of the Road , and so f.....king unfortunate! The ocean can be very unforgiving !

Edited October 25, 2013 by Wimbledon

[Mudcrab]

DO THEY HAVE LIFE GUARDS THERE? The reason i ask where i lived in the caribbean there were a couple of dangerous spots , and the odd drowning would occur , as there were not any lifeguards . ( and theone sign that was place in particular area fell down not to be place back for quite a long spell! Language barriers and paridise . .Too bad for them and the end of the Road , and so f.....king unfortunate! The ocean can be very unforgiving !

Read the OP - yes they do

[eddie61]

Chinese tourists should not be allowed to step outside their hotel rooms without a tour guide, let alone swim or cross roads unnaccompanied by an adult. I dare not think about allowing them to drive cars or rent motorbikes.

Edited October 25, 2013 by eddie61

[Halion]

Been many time to Karon beach with friends and family and it can indeed be a rather dangerous excursion to swim even when there is a low surf. The south end of Karon beach has a most powerful rip which could put even the most experienced swimmer in trouble.

Sad as these incidents are there are ample warning and I have been told that most of the hotels do advise guests that they should not swim if the red flags are up. I think that most incidents occur with people standing in waist deep water playing in the surf and they are hit by a wave and dragged out by the massive undertow. Perhaps to them they did not consider this as swimming.

RED FLAG..... Stay to hell out of the water !!

[bangon04]

"Mr Liu was also rushed to Patong Hospital, where he too was pronounced dead on arrival."

Sometimes it sounds like the ride to the hospital will finish you off. Having seen some of the "ambulances" in Thailand I can imagine it might.

In my country the arrival of the ambulance with paramedic gives you the best chance of survival.

[LivinginKata]

DO THEY HAVE LIFE GUARDS THERE? The reason i ask where i lived in the caribbean there were a couple of dangerous spots , and the odd drowning would occur , as there were not any lifeguards . ( and theone sign that was place in particular area fell down not to be place back for quite a long spell! Language barriers and paridise . .Too bad for them and the end of the Road , and so f.....king unfortunate! The ocean can be very unforgiving !

Read the OP - yes they do

"Lifeguards reported that both tourists ignored red warning flags marking the area as dangerous to swim."

[NomadJoe]

<snip>, but the waves are still up on the west coast. <snip>

A few days already no surf to speak of at Kata, even went for a dive today.

Karon still had surf today, but it's getting smaller. Still enough to get people in trouble.

[puukao]

I remember seeing a 40 foot great white shark and yelling "don't go in the water!!!!" Ten people rushed in, yelling, "Let's get a closer look, and bring your iphone for pictures!!!"

never saw them again.

[eezergood]

Pure arrogance & stupidity!

[Patje]

Water, overconfidence and stupidity ..... not a good mix.

God bless them

[Yahooka]

I remember seeing a 40 foot great white shark and yelling "don't go in the water!!!!" Ten people rushed in, yelling, "Let's get a closer look, and bring your iphone for pictures!!!"

never saw them again.

I hope it didn`t happen in Phuket ......................