British father, 37, drowns after getting caught in a rip tide whereas swimming at Phuket seashore throughout household vacation
A British father drowned while swimming at a Phuket beach during a family holiday after he became caught in a deadly rip tide.
The 37-year-old, from Ipswich, was paddling with his partner and dozens of other holidaymakers at the popular Freedom Beach on Saturday morning before the tragedy took place.
He was struck by an unexpectedly strong wave and pulled belown the water as a rip current dragged him away from the shore.
Frantic beachgoers carried the unconscious father-of-one onto the sand where they performed CPR, but they were unable to revive him.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanan Mekchai of Patong Police Station said: ‘The incident happened at around 11.30am, and we were notified an hour later.
‘[He] went to the beach with his wife at around 10am. While swimming, he was caught in strong waves and disappeared beneath the surface.
‘Tourists on the beach rushed to help and managed to pull him from the water. They attempted CPR for first aid while waiting for the emergency service, but he could not be revived.’
Shocked onlooker Chariya Thaweerat Howells, 31, said two other tourists were dragged out to sea with the man but they were rescued and survived.
The 37-year-old, from Ipswich, was paddling with his partner and dozens of other holidaymakers at the popular Freedom Beach on Saturday morning before the tragedy took place (Stock image: Freedom Beach)
It is understood that he had been dragged below the surface and was not immediately visible.
She said: ‘I was at the beach with my friends around 11.30am. The waves were pretty strong, we were even talking about how rough the sea looked.
‘We’d only been there about ten minutes when we suddenly heard two tourists out in the water yelling for help as the waves dragged them farther out.
‘Everyone on the beach, both locals and foreigners, rushed to help.
‘A Thai man, I’m not sure if he was a lifeguard or some kind of official, threw a kayak into the water and paddled out to them. Eventually, they managed to pull the two tourists back to safety.
‘But there was another tourist being dragged ashore, a third victim.
‘No one had noticed when he disappeared because everyone was focused on the pair who’d been swept out by the waves’.
The Brit had arrived in Thailand with his wife on November 19 for a family trip.
He had been in the sea several times before the incident without any difficulties.
The ambulance reportedly arrived after around 25 minutes, and then the tourists ran up to grab a stretcher to carry him up from the beach.
Chariya claimed there were neither lifeguards or red warning flags on the beach, despite the choppy conditions that claim the lives of dozens of holidaymakers every year.
She said: ‘We didn’t see any lifeguards or red flags on the beach. There was nothing to warn tourists how dangerous the waves were.
‘Only four or five Thai people were present, but they were not in lifeguard uniforms and appeared to be regular locals. They did not notice the British tourist go under until we shouted.
‘Only the foreigners performed CPR for about 20 minutes while waiting for the ambulance.
‘There was a communication difficulty between the Thai helpers and tourists, with both sides shouting instructions, so my friend and I stepped in to translate. The scene was chaotic.
‘The Thais wanted the foreigners to lift the man to a higher level above the beach, but they said they could not move him because CPR had to continue nonstop, otherwise he might die.’
The police officer attended an initial examination with Dr Punthanika Chaithienthong from Patong Hospital, concluding the death as an accidental drowning.
He said the British Embassy in Bangkok has been informed.
Police Chanan said: ‘The deceased’s family did not dispute the cause of death. His body has been released to them for funeral arrangements.’
The Daily Mail has approached the Foreign Office for comment.
