He was the second man to drown at Surin Beach since last Sunday, and became the fifth victim to drown in dangerous surf along Phuket’s west coast in the past week.
Tourist Police stationed at Phuket airport were informed at 6:40pm that a man had been pulled from the surf at Surin Beach. The man had no pulse, police were told.
Officers arrived to find lifeguards performing CPR on the man. He was rushed to Thalang Hospital but later pronounced dead, police reported.
Officers were told that the man had ignored red flags posted along the beach, marking areas where it is too dangerous to swim.
The man, later identified as Aleksandr Iunemen, had travelled to Phuket with relatives. He was staying at a hotel near Surin Beach, Tourist Police reported.
The Russian Consulate in Phuket had been informed of the incident, police said.
Mr Iunemen’s death at Surin Beach yesterday was the fifth drowning death at Phuket west coast beaches in the past week.
Two Indian men drowned at Karon Beach on Tuesday (Aug 1).
Earlier that same day local residents found the body of a 44-year-old Thai man from Phatthalung who disappeared amid large waves at Surin Beach last Sunday (July 30). His body was found washed up on rocks about a kilometre away two days later.
Last Friday, (July 28), a 22-year-old man from Senegal was pulled out to sea by a strong current at Freedom Beach, south of Patong. His body was found washed ashore two days later.
LIfeguards have repeatedly urged all beach-goers to observe lifeguards warnings and any red ‘no swimming’ flags posted on the beach, marking areas where it is too dangerous to enter the water.
Following the spate of drownings earlier this week, a provincial order was issued on behalf of the Phuket Governor on Wednesday (Aug 2).
The order empowers police, Tourist Police and local officials to “support” lifeguards when it comes to people ignoring red flags on the beach and ignoring lifeguards’ warnings.