Wasana Khamchomphu, 40, first reported the man missing to Patong Police at 5:53pm on Saturday, Patong Police reported.
Ms Wasana said the man, a 26-year-old employee of hers named Mr Lone Lone, went fishing earlier that morning at around 8:30am with two friends on the rocky shore near Paradise Beach.
At about 1:20pm, powerful waves swept Mr Lone into the sea. His friends attempted to rescue him and contacted emergency services, but were unable to locate him, Ms Wasana reported.
The search for Mr Lone continued yesterday (May 25). At about 5:55pm, Patong Police received a report that a body had been spotted floating near Tri Trang Beach, south of Patong.
Rescue teams, including patrol police, lifeguards and rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation, retrieved the body from the water.
The operation took about one hour, and the deceased was found wearing blue shorts and no shirt, Patong Police noted.
The body was identified by the victim’s brother, Mr Zaw Htwe Miaw. Mr Zaw told police he had learned of the incident on Saturday, after his younger brother failed to return from the fishing trip with two other coworkers, also Myanmar nationals.
Police said they were continuing their investigation, even though medical examinations by officers from the Phuket Provincial Forensic Science Office and a forensic doctor from Vachira Phuket Hospital found no evidence of foul play.