Pol Lt Col Weerayuth Thansirisukvorakul of Phuket City Police was informed of the man’s death by staff at Phuket Provincial Hospital at about 11am on Wednesday (Nov 22), reported Phuket Tourist Police.
The man was identified as Danny G Liu, a 75-year-old American citizen born in Japan in 1948. Mr Liu was traveling with his wife and child. He and his family arrived in Phuket last Saturday (Nov 18) and were staying at a report in Cherng Talay. The family were to fly home on Monday (Nov 27).
Tour guide Amphon Baonuet, 33, told police that Mr Liu fell face down into the water and began choking. People rushed to his aid and began CPR.
Mr Liu was rushed by speedboat to Laem Nga Pier in Ratsada. An ambulance rushed him to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital, the main government hospital on the island, were to perform a post-mortem examination in the hope of confirming the cause of death.
Mr Liu’s wife confirmed to police that her husband had suffered from cystic fibrosis.
Police noted that the tour company, Diamond Sea Marine Co Ltd, in Koh Kaew, had insurance coverage for guests of up to B1 million in the event of death, provided by Navakij Insurance Public Company Limited.
The United States Embassy representative in Phuket has been notified of the incident, police noted.