Pol Lt Col Charas Lempan, an investigator at Karon Police Station, was alerted by the Karon radio center at around 6pm yesterday (June 10) that a tourist had drowned and had been brought to Chalong Hospital for emergency treatment. However, despite medical efforts, the victim was pronounced dead.
The deceased was identified as Daniela Idrizi, 41, of Albanian nationality. Her husband, Mohammed Abdulkhaliya Hamdi Alsaba, 43, an Egyptian national, was present at the hospital and visibly distraught.
Mr Mohammed informed police that the couple had arrived in Phuket at approximately 2pm yesterday and checked into a hotel in Karon, where they planned to stay until June 12.
Later yesterday afternoon, around 4pm, the couple went swimming at Karon Beach. After about 10 minutes in the water, Mr Mohammed noticed that his wife had disappeared beneath the waves.
Rescue personnel and beach guards were immediately called to assist in the search. After about one hour, Ms Idrizi was located by lifeguards and pulled from the water unconscious. Emergency responders from Chalong Hospital arrived at the scene and attempted to resuscitate her, but she could not be revived.
Karon Police said they were continuing to investigate the incident.