German tourist collapses, dies at Phuket beach

[webfact]

German tourist collapses, dies at Phuket beach
Phuket Gazette


Tourists on Patong Beach look on as lifeguards attempt to revive Jorg Gutknecht who collapsed in knee-high water. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A German man collapsed and died in knee-deep water only meters from the shore at Patong Beach just before sunset yesterday.

Patong Police officers were called to the scene, in front the police box at the end of Soi Bangla (map here), at 6pm.

“When we arrived, lifeguards were administering CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation]. They continued for about 10 minutes, but the man did not regain consciousness,” Lt Col Pratueng Polmana of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette.

The man, later identified as German national Jorg Manfred Gutknecht, was sped to Patong Hospital.

“Doctors continued efforts to revive him for almost an hour, but to no avail,” Col Pratueng said.

Born on Christmas Day 1969, Mr Gutknecht was to celebrate his 44th birthday next week.

A Patong lifeguard reported that Mr Gutknecht was relaxing on a beach chair next to his partner Karin Leibold before his demise.

“He drank a couple of bottles of beer then went into the water at about 5:40pm,” the beach guard said.

“Then we saw him fall down into the water, which was only about knee high. We rushed to help him and called a local police volunteer to get help,” he said.

Police are waiting for doctors at Patong Hospital to confirm the cause of death before completing their report, Col Pratueng said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/German-tourist-collapses-dies-at-Phuket-beach-23063.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-12-19

[laurentbkk]

oh that is very sad indeed ... RIP ... very strange to end like this ...

[Dararasmi]

As far as "ways to go", not bad at all. (Though, I'd prefer a nicer beach.)

[pacovl46]

oh that is very sad indeed ... RIP ... very strange to end like this ...

How is a heart attack strange?

[NamKangMan]

oh that is very sad indeed ... RIP ... very strange to end like this ...

How is a heart attack strange?

I think laurentbkk was referring to the age of the deceased, and the fact that at the time of the possible heart attack, he was not performing any strenuous activity. It also could have also been a brain aneurysm.

[LivinginKata]

An insensitive post removed.

[sunshine51]

FWIW....RIP to the man & condolences to his partner.

[jacko45k]

As far as "ways to go", not bad at all. (Though, I'd prefer a nicer beach.)

I think at home is easier.

I hope the insurance covers getting his remains back home.

It will be a stressful time for his partner.