Second tourist this week drowns off Karon beach

Second tourist this week drowns off Karon beach

Tourist Andy Airtley is brought ashore at Karon beach in Phuket on Wednesday. (Photo by Adhadtaya Chuenniran)
Tourist Andy Airtley is brought ashore at Karon beach in Phuket on Wednesday. (Photo by Adhadtaya Chuenniran)

PHUKET: A tourist was pronounced dead after he drowned off Karon Beach on Wednesday.

Jet-ski operators brought a man identified as Andy Airtley ashore after they found him in the water, rescuers said.

The 51-year-old tourist was unconscious and received emergency aid from rescuers before he was sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

It was unclear whether he died during the transport or after arriving at the hospital.

It was the second death involving visitors in four days. On Sunday, a Russian tourist was pulled from the water off the same beach and died at Patong Hospital.

Two tourists were pulled from the sea off Nai Han Beach this week - a German tourist on Monday, and a Chinese visitor on Tuesday. Both survived.

Vachira Phuket Hospital director Chalermpong Sukonthaphol on Wednesday urged better safety measures for visitors to the island.

"Agencies involved should deploy strict measures on swimming on the beaches after all these events. It is very important because it is a matter of life and death," the doctor said. "Tourists should be given clear swimming instructions at all beaches."

VAdm Suraphol Kuptaphan, commander of the Royal Thai Navy's Third Region, said the navy was working with other agencies to provide safety personnel at all Phuket beaches.

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