Chinese tourist dies on day trip south of Phuket
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A 24-year-old Chinese tourist died while swimming during a day trip to Racha Island, about 25km south of Phuket, today (Feb 8).

Pol Lt Wutthiwat Liangboonjida of the Chalong Police told The Phuket News that he first became aware of the incident when staffers at the Tourist Rescue Centre reported at about midday that a tour company speedboat had arrived at Chalong Pier with the body of a Chines man.

The man, later identified as Ju Zekal, 24, was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of the yet-to-be-built Chalong Hospital (click here), where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Full Story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/chinese-tourist-dies-on-day-trip-south-of-phuket-56127.php

-- Phuket News 2016-02-08

Only 24 years old .... these Chinese tourists are drowning on a very regular basis ... this needs a proper investigation and not all the usual BS talk.

"was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of the yet-to-be-built Chalong Hospital"

I wonder if via the yet to be built Chalong underpass.

If only the yet to be enforced tourist safety measures were in place.

They must not be understanding that yes, water does come in the snorkel. Big lung full of water,panic,done.

Has to be one a week now,no?

...found out only after the boat returned....

...seems like they were hoping nobody would know or what....???

...this is bloody insane.....

...every day....and several times a day......

...now make an excuse....apologize.....or blame it on the victim.....

....."Next!"......

Charlie don't surf, Chinese don't swim.

this is another one from a few days ago, right? they dont seem to grasp the concept of swimming, and ive always seen them in lifejackets when in the water.

His female partner told police that Mr Ju entered the water to swim alone,” said Lt Wutthiwat.

“Later, when she went to check on him, he was found face down unconscious in the water,” he said.

Later how much later and what about the staff nobody was watching, no security and since when

are they suppose to leave someone swim alone, baffles my mind no security in this country.

R.I.P. young man

was on this trip the day before, lots of chinese had no idea how to wear the lifevest and use snorkel and diving mask, i did my best to show as many as i could, but 1 nearly drowned, had to be dragged on board, i told my wife soon smone will die, so it happened the next day, its madness out there.

was on this trip the day before, lots of chinese had no idea how to wear the lifevest and use snorkel and diving mask, i did my best to show as many as i could, but 1 nearly drowned, had to be dragged on board, i told my wife soon smone will die, so it happened the next day, its madness out there.

Someone must be responsible - either the (so called) captain or the tour guide. At the minimum the tour company should be liable. Yes ... madness ...

was on this trip the day before, lots of chinese had no idea how to wear the lifevest and use snorkel and diving mask, i did my best to show as many as i could, but 1 nearly drowned, had to be dragged on board, i told my wife soon smone will die, so it happened the next day, its madness out there.

Someone must be responsible - either the (so called) captain or the tour guide. At the minimum the tour company should be liable. Yes ... madness ...

I'm not sure I follow your logic on this one. The boat captain is responsible for driving the boat and getting the tourists to their destination. I'm not sure what tour guides do, but I doubt being a lifeguard is in their job description. Maybe they should be required to hire lifeguards instead of "tour guides" when going on snorkeling trips... What I see as the main problem is people who don't know how to swim are going in the ocean... It kind of like people that come to Thailand and rent a motorbike when they've never ridden one. Not the best place to learn to ride or swim. Personal responsibility and swimming lessons come to mind... Or don't go in the ocean if you can't swim.

I was in Donsal, Philippines last year where you can swim with whale sharks. A couple of the other boats were packed with Chinese in life vests and as soon as the boat captain would yell "go" it was all overboard and they all looked like dogpaddling, drowning, lemmings. Tough to see and swim with a whale shark if you can't swim! But yet there they were, bobbing red vests climbing all over each other.

Told the captain of our boat to stay away and lets look elswhere. Next time I'll get a few together and do a private boat, the next bit of coast over was where the whalesharks were as the boats and people right off the eco center were scaring them off.

I was in Donsal, Philippines last year where you can swim with whale sharks. A couple of the other boats were packed with Chinese in life vests and as soon as the boat captain would yell "go" it was all overboard and they all looked like dogpaddling, drowning, lemmings. Tough to see and swim with a whale shark if you can't swim! But yet there they were, bobbing red vests climbing all over each other.

Told the captain of our boat to stay away and lets look elswhere. Next time I'll get a few together and do a private boat, the next bit of coast over was where the whalesharks were as the boats and people right off the eco center were scaring them off.

Maybe "swimming" is being marketed in China as a extreme sport they can try in Thailand.