Japanese tourist dies after swimming at Koh Samet

 

Image: Thairath

 

A 60 year old Japanese tourist died Friday after getting into trouble swimming at Ao Saparot on Koh Samet.

 

Masatoshi Komiya was by some rocks about ten meters from the shore when he got into trouble in big waves.

 

He called to his wife and other tourists who managed to get him to shore.

 

He was ferried to Ban Pe then to Rayong Hospital. CPR was performed on the way.

 

He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

 

Police said that he had arrived on the island with his wife on Tuesday and was due to leave today. They had been staying at Sai Kaew beach.

 

Source: Thairath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-12-10

It never ceases to amaze me the number of swimmers who are pulled alive from the water yet die in or on the way to the hospital. In most western countries if you are still alive when you are put in the ambulance you are as good as saved !

Probably a medical emergency over a drowning if indeed he signaled hi s wife for help...

 

time is everything in medical emergencies...I have very little confidence that proper medical services are rendered in the field or on route...EMTs are very basic here and transport seems to be their primary focus...what can one expect from a covered pick up truck with an EMS emblem?

So he died when being rescued from the sea?! As he was calling out for help, he was still alive !

If so then you need to do CPR immidiately !! Not waiting for an ambulance to come and then start.

How long it takes for an ambulance to come? Way to long.

Instant CPR is critical !

I would venture that these 'medics' are, in fact, drivers and carriers of stretchers who's main job is to get the 'body' to a clinic or 'hospital' where proper medics/doctors are available to provide minimal care. I doubt if any of these drivers are trained in CPR or if the Ambulance is equipped with a Defilbulator or if even if the men know how to use one. Unless you are talking about a major Hospital you will, as in Mr. Komiya's case, die along the way. A victim such as Mr. Komiya may as well call for a trained life guard. It is not surprising that Thailand is ill equipped to handle seaside emergencies. 

Be interesting to see official statistics put out by every foreign Embassy & Consulate of the deaths of all their nationals in Thailand for each year. I should imagine the tally would be staggering. 

3 hours ago, xtrnuno41 said:

So he died when being rescued from the sea?! As he was calling out for help, he was still alive !

If so then you need to do CPR immidiately !! Not waiting for an ambulance to come and then start.

How long it takes for an ambulance to come? Way to long.

Instant CPR is critical !

It's the island of Koh Samet with basic medical facilities so  don't expect an ambulance, even with a speedboat it's then nearly 20 mins to Ban Phe especially with the sea as it was yesterday then nearly 30 mins to Bangkok Rayong hospital - guy didn't stand a chance.

 

Young Chinese woman the week before ...

Hard to know the facts with Thai reporting.

Surely someone would know CPR with all the tourists. 

3 people in 5 days dead now in Samet. All asians. The water has been a little choppy bit not what you would call dangerous to even a basic swimmer.

3 minutes ago, Mooner said:

Hard to know the facts with Thai reporting.

Surely someone would know CPR with all the tourists. 

3 people in 5 days dead now in Samet. All asians. The water has been a little choppy bit not what you would call dangerous to even a basic swimmer.

And he was on the sheltered side of the island  as well. 

4 hours ago, xtrnuno41 said:

So he died when being rescued from the sea?! As he was calling out for help, he was still alive !

If so then you need to do CPR immidiately !! Not waiting for an ambulance to come and then start.

How long it takes for an ambulance to come? Way to long.

Instant CPR is critical !

 

I am not sure.... He was alive, most probably even on the bank. 

Basically true that only a few can understand what to do in case of emergency. Most of us have no enough experience (Thanks God ? ) to apply the suitable first aid. Maybe an intensive training project at least in the main tourist areas would help.

Maybe not drowning but some other medical problem. Just read last week all the schools in Japan have swimming pools and are taught to swim at at a early age. Too bad they don't do that here. Rip to the man.

 

As it isn't mentioned here who really knows what killed the guy