Phuket tourist drowns on trip to Racha Island


Mr He Hua Si Chuan, 38, was on a island tour with his wife and friends.

Phuket: -- Phuket̕s marine tourism came into the spotlight for the wrong reasons again yesterday (January 25) following the death of a Chinese tourist whilst on a tour to Racha island.

At around around 3pm yesterday, Pol Maj Urumporn Koondejsumrit of the tourist police recieved a report of the drowning.

It was later found that the Chinese man, Mr He Hua Si Chuan, 38, drowned whilst snorkelling with his wife and friends at Racha Island.

Mr He̕s body was returned to Phuket and taken to Vachira Phuket Hospita, and is awaiting repatriation to China.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-tourist-drowns-on-trip-to-racha-island-50729.php


-- Phuket News 2015-01-26

very sad! although how did the guy drown snorkeling exactly?

The Chinese often feature in these kinds of drownings. Perhaps they do not wish to admit they cannot swim. The other common reason is getting tangled up in rope or fishing line. There will be a similar story in 2 or 3 months.

very sad! although how did the guy drown snorkeling exactly?

Most people drown, after getting hit by a boat.

Insensitive post has been removed

if it were a farang, many fingers will be pointing at how poorly maintained Thai waters are.

Most Chinese cannot swim, or at least adequately enough to even snorkel. They probably, in front of friends do not want to admit this.

It is strange how people who can not adequately swim venture into the water without realizing the dangers, either in still water or in a surf. I grew up in Sydney, virtually 5 minutes walk from the beach. I could swim at 3yo, and at 18yo joined the surf club movement as a volunteer life saver for 10 years. About 5 weeks ago I was on Nana Beach in Chumpon watching wind surfers. A Russian man (who was on the beach with his wife and child) ventured into the rough surf. One even I would not have gone into without a surf board. And I could see that he barely could swim. There were savage rips everywhere and he walked straight into one. Didn't/couldn't recognize it. Within minutes he was at least 500m off shore and moving fast out to sea. This happened so quick it took his wife minutes to realize he was in very serious trouble. She pointed him out to one of the wind surfers who went out after him. It took at least 20 minutes to get him to shore. And when he got there he could not stand due to absolute exhaustion.

Why would a person who can barely swim entered a dangerous surf on an unpatrolled beach ? If those wind surfers were not there his wife would now be a widow, and TAT would have another drowning.

I would like to see the authorities be more proactive in putting up more signage warning swimmers, in Thai, English, Russian and Chinese. And this goes for still water as well.

And TAT are planning an additional 20 million mainland Chinese over 5 years, and Chumpon will be a designated target area. Jeez, I think I know what's going to happen.

Most Chinese cannot swim, or at least adequately enough to even snorkel. They probably, in front of friends do not want to admit this.

It is strange how people who can not adequately swim venture into the water without realizing the dangers, either in still water or in a surf. I grew up in Sydney, virtually 5 minutes walk from the beach. I could swim at 3yo, and at 18yo joined the surf club movement as a volunteer life saver for 10 years. About 5 weeks ago I was on Nana Beach in Chumpon watching wind surfers. A Russian man (who was on the beach with his wife and child) ventured into the rough surf. One even I would not have gone into without a surf board. And I could see that he barely could swim. There were savage rips everywhere and he walked straight into one. Didn't/couldn't recognize it. Within minutes he was at least 500m off shore and moving fast out to sea. This happened so quick it took his wife minutes to realize he was in very serious trouble. She pointed him out to one of the wind surfers who went out after him. It took at least 20 minutes to get him to shore. And when he got there he could not stand due to absolute exhaustion.

Why would a person who can barely swim entered a dangerous surf on an unpatrolled beach ? If those wind surfers were not there his wife would now be a widow, and TAT would have another drowning.

I would like to see the authorities be more proactive in putting up more signage warning swimmers, in Thai, English, Russian and Chinese. And this goes for still water as well.

And TAT are planning an additional 20 million mainland Chinese over 5 years, and Chumpon will be a designated target area. Jeez, I think I know what's going to happen.

"I would like to see the authorities be more proactive in putting up more signage warning swimmers, in Thai, English, Russian and Chinese. And this goes for still water as well."

May warning signs already, this is simply not doing the trick.

Hell, they're even ignoring warnings from lifeguards on the spot and head in anyway.

Most Chinese cannot swim, or at least adequately enough to even snorkel. They probably, in front of friends do not want to admit this.

It is strange how people who can not adequately swim venture into the water without realizing the dangers, either in still water or in a surf. I grew up in Sydney, virtually 5 minutes walk from the beach. I could swim at 3yo, and at 18yo joined the surf club movement as a volunteer life saver for 10 years. About 5 weeks ago I was on Nana Beach in Chumpon watching wind surfers. A Russian man (who was on the beach with his wife and child) ventured into the rough surf. One even I would not have gone into without a surf board. And I could see that he barely could swim. There were savage rips everywhere and he walked straight into one. Didn't/couldn't recognize it. Within minutes he was at least 500m off shore and moving fast out to sea. This happened so quick it took his wife minutes to realize he was in very serious trouble. She pointed him out to one of the wind surfers who went out after him. It took at least 20 minutes to get him to shore. And when he got there he could not stand due to absolute exhaustion.

Why would a person who can barely swim entered a dangerous surf on an unpatrolled beach ? If those wind surfers were not there his wife would now be a widow, and TAT would have another drowning.

I would like to see the authorities be more proactive in putting up more signage warning swimmers, in Thai, English, Russian and Chinese. And this goes for still water as well.

And TAT are planning an additional 20 million mainland Chinese over 5 years, and Chumpon will be a designated target area. Jeez, I think I know what's going to happen.

"I would like to see the authorities be more proactive in putting up more signage warning swimmers, in Thai, English, Russian and Chinese. And this goes for still water as well."

May warning signs already, this is simply not doing the trick.

Hell, they're even ignoring warnings from lifeguards on the spot and head in anyway.

Yes I agree many beaches do have signs, on beaches frequented by tourists. But some of the off-the-beaten-tourist-track beaches do not. And there are still more of them than the better known beaches. And yes lifeguards are being ignored. It is never helpful to argue with fools or drunks, and in places like Pattaya the two are usually combined. And in the water during a rescue, a panicking victim / patient, can become very dangerous.