German Drowns in Rough Seas on Koh Phangan

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German Drowns in Rough Seas on Koh Phangan
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
Staff Reporter


Photo: Joe Christiansen / Flickr

SURAT THANI — A 46-year-old German tourist drowned after reportedly ignoring a rough seas warning yesterday on Koh Phangan.

The wife of the unidentified deceased said they traveled from their bungalow to Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach where her husband went to swim in the sea. Later she heard him shouting for help.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1455772747

-- Khaosod English 2016-02-18

[KhunBENQ]

My condolences to the widow.

Coming back home alone.

How depressing.

Why can't people resist the danger?

There must be a magic attraction to swim in the sea for any price.

[atyclb]

likely a choppy messy swell made by strong wind. these conditions can make experienced surfers tire quickly. not a good idea to have a vacation swim.

[Nemesis7]

Sad. Should follow the warning sign.

[sambum]

Sad. Should follow the warning sign.

Yes, the red flags are not put there for nothing. And at the risk of being labelled macabre, I do think that the photographer should be given a pat on the back for the covering photo - says it all.

[AdamRich]

In Rio I learned the hard way to obey those signs. Fortunately it wasn't as hard of a way as the German gentleman because I lived to tell about it.

[Roomuck]

Another statistic of a foreigner death in Thailand and another statistic that proves? that Thailand is getting more dangerous for foreigners. I suppose.

[SOTIRIOS]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

[FolkGuitar]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

I'd like to think your post was made as sarcasm, but I fear it wasn't.

Do they have lifeguards on duty 24 hours a day in your country?

Even in the most Nanny State of countries there isn't a 24/7 guard on all the beaches.

There was a warning. The man disregarded the warning.

Even is there was NO warning at the time, is it smart to swim in seas that aren't protected? Alone? No swim buddy?

I'm sorry for the widow, but the man was foolish and paid the price.

Edited February 18, 2016 by FolkGuitar

[MaeJoMTB]

Even is there was NO warning at the time, is it smart to swim in seas that aren't protected? Alone?

In the UK almost no beaches had protection ever.

I used to swim out as far as I could, until exhausted, no matter what the weather or sea conditions.

Then slowly make my way back to shore. The beach would be totally deserted as always.

(always wearing a steamer, cos it's too cold to swim far in the UK without)

This is the way you swim in Europe.

We aren't quite the nanny states that the US and Oz appear to be ......... yet.

[Roomuck]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

Er, ah ok then. 3,200 Kim's of coastline, say a lifeguard every 100 meters just to to be on the safe side.

320 x 3 shifts 960 lifeguards.

Payed by the Thai taxpayer. To save farangs from farangness.

Maybe they could cut 960 nurses from public hospitals, or 960 teachers from the overcrowded public schools to pay for it.

Sure to be a vote winner that one.

[sambum]

Even is there was NO warning at the time, is it smart to swim in seas that aren't protected? Alone?

In the UK almost no beaches had protection ever.

I used to swim out as far as I could, until exhausted, no matter what the weather or sea conditions.

Then slowly make my way back to shore. The beach would be totally deserted as always.

(always wearing a steamer, cos it's too cold to swim far in the UK without)

This is the way you swim in Europe.

We aren't quite the nanny states that the US and Oz appear to be ......... yet.

You, sir, are a nutter, or a liar, or taking the p**s! Or maybe all three!

"I used to swim out as far as I could, until exhausted, no matter what the weather or sea conditions."

"The beach would be totally deserted as always."

And I am not from the USA or OZ, I am from the UK where you would probably, quite rightly get locked up for such senseless and inconsiderate behaviour.

[tomyumchai]

i dont need a red flag to tell me the sea is rough, i have a voice inside my head that whispers "<deleted> me thats rough...go get a beer instead"

[freedom4life]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

As adults your old enough to make decisions...that's why I love places like Thailand,,autonomy. Stop asking for more policing and babysitting...that's what makes it more fun and adventurous, freedom to choose and responsibility for the outcome...I'm not going to let them (or people like you) turn beautiful Thailand into the U.K., (K)anada, Austr(hell)ia or Ameri(k)a...stop making me write this over and over again...learn and move on in joy.

[mcfish]

That's rough seas? Sure there is a rip but at least there are no 10ft waves in that rip

Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk

[sawadee1947]

if you don't know what to do if a currant will pull you out into the sea then it happens at it is. Even for experienced swimmers it is dangerous but to manage. Poor guy. RIP

[Bsd]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

You realise that the photo is just a file photo and not the actual beach (hint 6 foot waves are taller than that), there were half a dozen red flags along the beach and about 100 tourists on the beach at the time of the drowning.

And I should add the victim wasn't the only one swimming that day

Edited February 18, 2016 by Bsd

[MAJIC]

Even is there was NO warning at the time, is it smart to swim in seas that aren't protected? Alone?

In the UK almost no beaches had protection ever.

I used to swim out as far as I could, until exhausted, no matter what the weather or sea conditions.

Then slowly make my way back to shore. The beach would be totally deserted as always.

(always wearing a steamer, cos it's too cold to swim far in the UK without)

This is the way you swim in Europe.

We aren't quite the nanny states that the US and Oz appear to be ......... yet.

i have serious doubts that you have ever been to the UK,or is it your normal UK bash time!

http://www.rnli.org/aboutus/lifeguardsandbeaches/Pages/Lifeguarded-beaches.aspx

[MaeJoMTB]

i have serious doubts that you have ever been to the UK,or is it your normal UK bash time!

Off topic

Hardly any Cornish beaches have lifeguards.

My local beach was Bossiney (never),

I also used Trebarwith Strand (only life guard in high season)

And The Strangles (never)

Edited February 18, 2016 by MaeJoMTB

[mcfish]

Today walking past the police station on beach Rd Pattaya I saw from a distance a table set up on the foot path with two men wearing official looking vests like tourist police do. When I got close they were both fiddling with iPhone behind a wall of umbrellas

The vests actually said life guards. Now I was standing behind the wall of umbrellas and could not see the ocean, those two were seated on the footpath.. Zero... Visibility

I guess they were relying on the front row of beach chairs to start screaming some one is drowning

Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk

[Myshkin]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

Don't stop here! It's not just the beaches!

I do a fair amount of mountain biking alone on fairly steep jungle trails, and I think I am entitled unlimited safety. There should be a security guard behind every tree and a rescue helicopter parked every 500 meters to warrant fast evacuation to the nearest hospital should anything nasty happen to my precious self.

Why should I take any responsibility for my (sometimes careless) actions when in today's world it is the norm to blame everything on others.

[MAJIC]

i have serious doubts that you have ever been to the UK,or is it your normal UK bash time!

Off topic

Hardly any Cornish beaches have lifeguards.

My local beach was Bossiney (never),

bossiney.jpg

I also used Trebarwith Strand (only life guard in high season)

And The Strangles (never)

But all the main Tourist ones do!what do you expect Beach coverage for Dog walkers ?

[DaveinAsia]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

I'd like to think your post was made as sarcasm, but I fear it wasn't.

Do they have lifeguards on duty 24 hours a day in your country?

Even in the most Nanny State of countries there isn't a 24/7 guard on all the beaches.

There was a warning. The man disregarded the warning.

Even is there was NO warning at the time, is it smart to swim in seas that aren't protected? Alone? No swim buddy?

I'm sorry for the widow, but the man was foolish and paid the price.

He is right though about them not investing anything in safety even though they rake in millions.

They just want to take but give nothing back.

RIP German man

[KC 71]

Swam out 10m in Chaweng once - took me30 mins to get back !

Strong riptides !

[slerickson]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

I guess you are a nanny state advocate. Wouldn't want anyone to take responsibility for their own judgement or lack thereof?

[hottrader77]

My condolences to the widow.

Coming back home alone.

How depressing.

Why can't people resist the danger?

There must be a magic attraction to swim in the sea for any price.

terrible for the widow thinking of a life together and suddenly being left to start again after this tragedy hope she eventually finds happiness so sad

[Roomuck]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

Er, ah ok then. 3,200 Kim's of coastline, say a lifeguard every 100 meters just to to be on the safe side.

320 x 3 shifts 960 lifeguards.

Payed by the Thai taxpayer. To save farangs from farangness.

Maybe they could cut 960 nurses from public hospitals, or 960 teachers from the overcrowded public schools to pay for it.

Sure to be a vote winner that one.

After a bit of thought and six Leo's , I realized I was wrong with the figures here. To put a lifeguard every hundred meters would actullly require 32,000, so we would need 96,000 Thais on the lookout everyday to protect the farang, and that is just on the beaches. But to really save the farang we would also need a team of three or so at the bottom of each condo block in case he fell off the balcony, bigger teams on the roads, etc eat that would be cost effective.?!

[nakhonandy]

OK sad loss. Red flags etc.

Why swim in these conditions if you are not capable?

I will never understand this.

[berg1666]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

What total rubbish, the only person responsible for the choice to enter the water is yourself. There are flags there to tell you of the risk. Seen too many idiots around water blaming everyone else for their own stupid actions. If in doubt, stay out.

[sunnyjim5]

...a tattered flag...and unattended beach.....

...where are the lifeguards.....

...where is all the money they are raking in from the tourists...going.....

....an extra...... 1000 + 200 PER HEAD.....just these past 2 months alone......

...leaving a beach unattended should be criminal.....

...too much to pay a Thai to patrol the beach.....24 hours a day...

...and who knows if someone forgot to put the red rag up....and just got back to put it up for the photo....

..total utter 'dereliction of duty'....

...from the top down....

Name one,just one Western Country with a coastline that provides beach patrols/lifeguards on all beaches 24/7 .

Are all Australian beaches, for example, covered by even a 12/7 beach patrol/lifeguard service ?

Would that lack of service in Australia amount to a " .total utter 'dereliction of duty'.......from the top down" ?