Patong Municipality and the Patong Development Fund, which created and funds the ‘Patong Baywatch’ team, who conduct the patrols, still have yet to announce their return of nighttime patrols.
The number of night watchmen at Patong Beach has yet to be confirmed, but the patrols have resumed with the intent of covering as much of the beach as possible and to be always ready with equipment to rescue people from the surf.
As recently as last Wednesday (Oct 18) a Patong Baywatch patrol had to safely recover a tourist from the water at nearly 9pm the night.
“Patong Municipality has organised lifeguards who are on duty from dark until the morning between the main rescue shifts,” Patong Surf Life Saving announced.
“Now, at least some parts of the beach have lifeguards both day and night, who provide monitoring 24 hours a day in conjunction with the volunteer beach patrol [Patong Baywatch service of the Patong Development Foundation],” Patong Surf Life Saving explained.
At the end of the tourism high season in March this year, Patong Surf Life Saving explained that main objectives of the night patrols were:
- Warning tourists about the risk of theft and asking them to keep an eye on their belongings
- Patrolling the beach line from 7pm to 7:00 am
- Preventing swimming at night.
- Preventing indecent and inappropriate behaviour at night on the beach
- Maintaining a first aid station at the Bangla Road exit from 7pm to 4:30am.
- Informing tourists about the ban on fireworks and fire lanterns.
- Assisting tourists in a state of alcohol intoxication.
- Assisting tourists in a state of cannabis intoxication.
- First aid for minor injuries.
While the Patong Baywatch initiative was created and remains funded by the Patong Development Foundation, the foundation itself was created by local businessman Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin, owner of the Pisona group of companies and son of former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, who died in 2014.
One of Prab Keesin’s brothers, Sanakorn Keesin, currently serves as Deputy Mayor of Patong, under Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri. The other Deputy Mayor of Patong is Lalita Maneesri.