Patong Police received a call at 4:30pm reporting that a tourist had drowned near Loma Park.
Pol Lt Yingyong Chuaykit arrived with Kusoldharm rescue workers to find people gathered around as lifeguards administered CPR to an unconscious man, identified as Abdullah Almusawi.
Mr Abdullah was taken to Patong Hospital, where he was pronounced dead soon after arrival.
Lt Yingyong said that according to witnesses Mr Almusawi was staying in a hotel in Patong with his wife and children for nearly two months.
“The man had a disabled arm. People at the beach told us that he loved to swim and came to the beach every day with his family,” said Lt Yingyong.
“They said that Mr Abdullah went into the water alone and ignored the red flags in the area. When they saw him struggling in the water, they shouted for help and a group of people went out to help him and carry him out of the water,” he added.
“Mr Abdullah’s family were not with him at the time of the incident, soon arrived to see what was going on when they saw a group of people gather on the beach and saw him unresponsive on the beach,” Lt Yingtong said.