The alarm was raised just before 3pm yesterday, after two Chinese nationals, Yuan Wenyi, 20, and Wu Haoming, 27, entered the sea at Nai Harn despite strong waves and red ‘no swimming’ flags posted along the beach.
Mr Yuan was pulled away by the current and disappeared from sight.
Marine Police and the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation dive team were called to assist in the search, supported by nearby fishing and tourist boats. However, operations were suspended last night due to poor conditions.
The search resumed this morning (Oct 2), with Rawai Municipality deploying a dinghy, binoculars and a rescue vehicle, while its lifeguards scoured the coastline on jet-ski.
The Kusoldharm Foundation dispatched two dinghies and 10 divers equipped for underwater searches between Nai Harn and Ao Sane, and the Region 3 branch of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC 3) sent boat 4012 to cover offshore areas. Additional searches were also conducted around Yanui Beach.
Rawai Mayor Thames Kraitat has established a special search coordination centre to link officials with the missing man’s relatives and oversee joint operations.
At last report, the missing tourist had not yet been located. Authorities confirmed that efforts will continue until he is found.