Lifeguards recovered Petr Agapov, 57, from the water at about 2pm, Phuket Lifeguard Chief Prathaiyut Chuayuan told The Phuket News.
“The man was unconscious when lifeguard brought him onto the beach,” Mr Prathaiyut said.
“Rescue workers administered CPR before transporting him to Thalang Hospital. He was then quickly transported to Vachira Phuket Hospital.”
Mr Agapov was pronounced dead at 7pm. Doctors at Vachira Hospital confirmed the cause of death as drowning, Mr Prathaiyut added.
The Russian Embassy has been notified of Mr Agapov’s death, he noted.
Mr Prathaiyut explained that the waves in the area where Mr Agapov was recovered from the water were not overly dangerous.
“But our lifeguards are not allowed to patrol that area near the southern end of the beach because a hotel there prefers to have their own staff to look after swimmers’ safety there,” he said.
“When people noticed that Mr Agapov was in danger, our lifeguards had to be called in from further up the beach. It’s not far, but in emergencies every second counts,” Mr Prathaiyut said.
Mr Agapov was a guest staying at that same hotel that prefers to have its own staff watch over swimmers, he added.