Rescue workers and officials today (August 13) are searching off Phuket’s southwest coast for Korean tourist Seo Seungin, 41, who was reported missing from Kata Noi beach yesterday evening.
Mr Seo and his girlfriend both came to swim at the beach, said Karon Municipality Tourist Rescue Centre chief Supachai Janpen.
“It was windy at the time of the incident and red ‘no swimming’ flags were posted on the beach. The victim was swept out to sea in front of his girlfriend,” he said.
“The beach guard who witnessed the incident jumped in and tried to save Mr Seo, but the powerful waves took the victim away.”
The beach guard called for help and tried to find Mr Seo, but to no avail.
“We searched for Mr Seo yesterday and gave up when it became dark,” Mr Supachai said, adding that officers from the Royal Thai Navy have joined the search.
“We are continuing our search today, and we will keep looking until we find him,” Mr Supachai said.
The disappearance of Mr Seo followed the death of the Singaporean tourist Seah Chin Hin, 53, who collapsed unconscious after swimming during a day trip to a beach near Koh Khai Nui, in Koh Yao District, Phang Nga, on Tuesday (August 11).
Mr Seah went swimming at about 4:20pm, said Lt Sakol Krainara of the the Phuket City Police.
“Ten minutes later, Mr Seah came up to the speedboat and collapsed unconscious after he told his son that he had been choking underwater,” he said.
The speedboat crew administered Mr Seah first aid then transported him to Boat Lagoon Marina in Koh Kaew, where an ambulance arrived and took Mr Seah to Mission Hospital.
Doctors at Mission Hospital confirmed to police that Mr Seah suffered from heart failure and an obstructed pulmonary system, and was pronounced dead on arrival at 6:10 pm.
As Mr Seah’s wife, Chen Huixian, and their family have not contested the doctor’s or the police’s findings for Mr Seah cause of death, the claimed Mr Seah’s body to return to Singapore for his funeral, said Lt Sakol.