PHANGNGA: A 44-year-old Chinese man drowned while swimming off the Similan islands on Saturday.
The tourist, whose name was withheld pending notification of relatives, was swimming near Koh 7 in Mu Koh Similan National Park when he began to struggle, said officials from Thai Maritime Enforcement Centre Region 3, who were alerted at 1.45pm.
Rescuers managed to bring the man to shore quickly. Medics and officials from a navy security unit administered first aid before sending the man to the Khao Lak Medical Centre.
He was later pronounced dead, authorities said.