Surin Lifeguards Continue Saving Lives


Rescued family thank lifeguards for saving them (Fourth victim not pictured). Photo Surin-Bangtao Surf Lifesaving Club.

PHUKET: -- July 28th, 2014: According to David Jenner, there hasn’t been a drowning death on Phuket’s Surin Beach in five years. Despite multiple drownings at nearby beaches such as Layan, Patong, Karon, and Kata during the same time frame, Surin has remained free of fatalities.

Jenner said that the record came very close to being shattered yesterday. The tragedy that could have occurred, had the potential to become one of Phuket’s worst drowning tragedies in recent times.

Despite the sunny conditions, a family of three from Belgium, including their three year old son, along with a fourth victim, were all caught in a flash rip current, in which they could have all lost their lives in a space of a few minutes.

They ventured into the water, passing a row of red warning flags and multi-lingual signs - all illustrating no swimming and dangerous currents.

According to Jenner, large red and yellow flags had been set up by lifeguards, marking off the safe swimming area, which beach-goers had been using for hours without incident.

Jenner said that at around 4:30 PM, the four were spotted by lifeguards well outside of the safe swimming area, struggling to swim to shore against the current. One man was trying to hold a small baby, while attempting to fight against the fast moving water.

Jenner said the child’s mother was being swept the farthest out. Three lifeguards quickly dove into the ocean to rescue the victims, while three further rescuers remained on shore for back-up.

The lifeguard assisting the man and baby, also managed to whistle nearby swimmers out of the water.

Lifeguards and victims were dragged by the current for nearly five minutes, as they pulled the victims out of the rip current and back to shore, Jenner said.

They were fortunately all returned to the beach safely, without any serious injury.

Lifeguards have said that monsoon storms have ravaged the coastline, destroying the lifeguard tower at Surin and washing away part of the road. Although temporary guard quarters have been brought in, the height of the old tower provided a much clearer view.

Jenner said that Surin’s full time lifeguard staff has been cut from eight guards last year, to just five this year.

“During the rescue, if another victim needed assistance at the south rocks, we just wouldn’t have been able to get there in time”, one of the rescuers said. “We are stretched fairly thin.”

“Everyone will make it home safely from Surin today, so no matter how difficult the rescue was, it was definitely a good day in the end,” the lifeguards said.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/surin-lifeguards-continue-saving-lives-47572.php


-- Phuket News 2014-07-28

"They ventured into the water, passing a row of red warning flags and multi-lingual signs - all illustrating no swimming and dangerous currents."

Completely irresponsible. Idiots.

"Despite the sunny conditions, a family of three from Belgium, including their three year old son,"

Sorry little guy, its not your fault your parents are stupid.

Excellent example why some should not be allowed to procreate.

Surin Lifeguards Continue Saving Lives

Teachers Continue Teaching

There's nothing quite like doing one's job, I suppose.

Surin Lifeguards Continue Saving Lives

Teachers Continue Teaching

There's nothing quite like doing one's job, I suppose.

Big difference teaching children in a classroom and going into life endangering sea conditions to help save people from drowning. Maybe a job but takes a lot of guts to put your own life on the line every time a tourist doesnt pay any attention to teh clear signs - all for 300 baht a day!.. Maybe if you every go swim in Surin you might appreciate the life guards role more when you see how dangerous it is. Especially if you get caught in a rip.!