British tourist drowns after Phuket weather warning issued

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British tourist drowns after Phuket weather warning issued
Phuket Gazette


Lifeguards attempt to revive English tourist Edward Brookes after recovering him from the surf at Karon Beach yesterday. Photo: Wirot Saweangphol

PHUKET: -- A British tourist drowned at Karon Beach yesterday afternoon, hours after a heavy weather warning was issued for Phuket and other areas along the Andaman coast.

Police named the victim as Edward Joseph Brookes, 63, from England.

Mr Brookes disappeared in the surf in front of Karon Municipality Stadium (map here) at 2:40pm after enjoying lunch with his wife, Kata-Karon chief lifeguard Uten Singsom told the Phuket Gazette.

“By the time lifeguards noticed Mr Brookes was in trouble, he was about 70 meters from the shore,” Mr Uten said.

Lifeguards rushed out and brought him back to the beach. They administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but were unable to revive him.

“While we were giving him CPR, beer came out his mouth,” Mr Uten added.

Efforts to revive Mr Brookes continued as rescue workers sped him to Patong Hospital.

“He was pronounced dead on arrival,” Mr Uten said.

Mr Brookes’ 60-year-old wife, Marion, told lifeguards that the couple had just finished lunch when Mr Brookes decided to go for a swim.

“She confirmed that her husband drank beer with his lunch,” Mr Uten said.

“She stayed on the beach, and had no idea what had happened until lifeguards brought her husband back on shore,” he added.

Karon Beach has gained a notorious reputation for surf safety over the years. The tourist-popular beach is prone to large waves and dangerous rips during the southwest monsoon season.

Last Friday Norwegian tourist Chris Roger Hangsao, 55, drowned at the beach (story here).

Late last month, two more tourists – a Russian man and a Chinese man – drowned within hours of each other at the same beach (story here).

The latest drowning came hours after the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a heavy weather warning.

“People in Phuket and other provinces should beware the current severe weather,” the TMD announced.

The other provinces named in the warning ranged across Southern Thailand, and specifically included Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun.

Strong wind and waves of two to four meters high were forecast to plague the Andaman Sea.

All ships were warned to proceed with caution and small boats were urged to keep ashore.

Mr Uten cautioned tourists wanting to swim at Phuket beaches during the current warning.

“The weather is changing, and the danger is changing from rip currents to hard-hitting waves, especially near the beach,” he said.

“Please be careful. Even in water only knee-high, the waves can knock you down and hurt you,” he added.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/British-tourist-drowns-after-Phuket-weather-warning-issued-22839.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-11-21

[JetsetBkk]

RIP Edward Brookes and condolences to Marion Brookes.

I don't know how to improve the warning system - red flags every 50 metres? 10 metres? Close the beach? How do you stop people going into the sea when the waves are high and especially after eating and drinking?

What is wrong with peoples' sense of self-preservation?

[mrtoad]

Drink beer, eat food and Then go for a swim - not exactly the brightest thing to do. Not sure if there were Red flags out, but Karon has always been a beach that has a high amount of drownings.

[Guest]

I don't know how to improve the warning system - red flags every 50 metres? 10 metres? Close the beach? How do you stop people going into the sea when the waves are high and especially after eating and drinking?

What is wrong with peoples' sense of self-preservation?

Maybe part of the problem is in the countries the people come from. If people see lot's of warnings for everything, people soon learn that even if they act against the warning, nothing really bad is going to happen.

[transam]

I don't know how to improve the warning system - red flags every 50 metres? 10 metres? Close the beach? How do you stop people going into the sea when the waves are high and especially after eating and drinking?

What is wrong with peoples' sense of self-preservation?

Maybe part of the problem is in the countries the people come from. If people see lot's of warnings for everything, people soon learn that even if they act against the warning, nothing really bad is going to happen.

In the UK I ''tried'' to save two numnuts that entered the sea that was obviously a no go weather situation. Folk will do what they want.

[LivinginKata]

Looked quite calm at Kata beach. Lots of folks in the water.

I suspect sea condition had little to do with this fatality. RIP.

[laurentbkk]

an accidental death is always sad but tourists should pay more attention to any warnings ...as I guess in their own country they will respect it.... RIP

[NeverSure]

How sad and unnecessary. RIP Mr. Brookes, and condolences Mrs. Brookes.

[Benmart]

Very sad and often repeated the world over.

Back home there are signs in multiple languages warning people not to go out onto the rocks to view the sea creatures. Several times a year people fail to heed the warnings, only to be washed out to sea by the large, violent and crashing waves. One year a family of four fell victim and were drowned.

Rest in Peace Dear Man.

[Loles]

So really have to say many people come here to die.

RIP old English guy.

I guess this trouble didn't occurred about beer.

This was an accident. Sorry for his wife.

[jacko45k]

an accidental death is always sad but tourists should pay more attention to any warnings ...as I guess in their own country they will respect it.... RIP

Yes, but I was suspicious of the comment..

“While we were giving him CPR, beer came out his mouth,” Mr Uten added.

He may have had one beer or many....and fortunately Mr Uten recognised it despite it being mixed with stomach contents and sea-water.

[MMarlow]

an accidental death is always sad but tourists should pay more attention to any warnings ...as I guess in their own country they will respect it.... RIP

Yes, but I was suspicious of the comment..

“While we were giving him CPR, beer came out his mouth,” Mr Uten added.

He may have had one beer or many....and fortunately Mr Uten recognised it despite it being mixed with stomach contents and sea-water.

And depite your unwarranted cynicism Mr Uten was right.

[jacko45k]

an accidental death is always sad but tourists should pay more attention to any warnings ...as I guess in their own country they will respect it.... RIP

Yes, but I was suspicious of the comment..

“While we were giving him CPR, beer came out his mouth,” Mr Uten added.

He may have had one beer or many....and fortunately Mr Uten recognised it despite it being mixed with stomach contents and sea-water.

And depite your unwarranted cynicism Mr Uten was right.

I would have expected seawater.

Was he able to inform us how many beers he had consumed.?

Or whether it contributed to his demise.

Or please, point us to your source of your and his surety?

A shame the lifeguards weren't watching him when he was swimming

Edited November 22, 2013 by jacko45k