The tourist, 34-year-old Italian national Tomas Garcia Martin, became lost in the jungle near Nai Yang Beach during a fishing trip on Sunday (Oct 13).
He called the Pullman Naithon Hotel where he was staying, informing staff that he was lost and his phone battery was running low. He said he would wait near some rocks until help arrived.
A search was launched that night, but failed to find Mr Martin.
The search, Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Pol Col Thirawat Liamsuwan, resumed yesterday (Oct 14), but failed to find him during the morning.
The search team include Pol Lt Col Kraisorn Chomchuen, Acting Superintendent of Sakhu Police Station, 10 officers from Sakhu Police Station, two officers from the Tourist Police, seven officers from the Phuket Provincial Police Crime Suppression Division, two officers from the Tourist Assistance Center, five officers from Sirinath National Park along with the village headman from Moo 4, Baan Nai Thon, two rescue workers and locals well experienced with the trails in the area.
They divided into two teams, scouring the forest and beaches around the Sakhu hills and surrounding areas.
By 5pm, Mr Martin still had not been found, and so the team attempted to contact him via text message. Fortunately, the tourist responded, explaining that he had safely exited the forest on his own at around 1pm and was staying at a hotel in Phuket Town.
The officers caught up with Mr Martin to make sure of his well-being. That was when Mr Martin became fully aware of the efforts made to locate him, for which he expressed his gratitude to all those involved in the search operation.