Phi Phi Police’s Lt Santipoj Nuanreang was notified at 1:30pm that a group of people including tourists had rescued a Chinese tourist who they had found unconscious in the water at Loh Mudee Bay in Ao Nang. The man was in a critical condition police were told.
Phi Phi Police, Krabi Marine Police and Tourist Police arrived at the area where they saw a group of more than 10 people surrounding the unconscious man, named as Chinese national 67-year- old Mr Tang Hongzhu.
Rescuers and tourists helped carry Mr Tang onto a speedboat which took him to Phi Phi Hospital where he was pronounce dead upon arrival.
Lt Santipoj said,”We were told that Mr Tang came with 25 tourists (20 adults and five children) on the Trip Nisa tour boat.
“The captain of Trip Nisa, Mr Theerawat Changnam, 18, told us that he picked up the 26 people from Koh Lanta and took them, together three crew members to Phi Phi this morning. When they arrived at Loh Mudee Bay at around 11:17am Mr Tang went into the water for a swim with his life jacket on,” he said
“Mr Theerawat said he heard other tourists shouting ‘a man has drowned,’ so he went into the water to help along with his crew.”
Mr Theerawat added, “We administered first aid to him while waiting for help to arrive.”
Lt Santipoj continued, “Doctors at Phi Phi Hospital said that Mr Tang had a sudden health issue while swimming causing him to fall unconscious.
“Tourist Police are notifying the Chinese Embassy to let them know of the incident and assist the victim’s family,” he said.