In Patong, Pol Lt Col Phongpipat Khamchomphu, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) at Patong Police, was informed that Che Ka Fai Andy, a 52-year-old Chinese national from Hong Kong, had died after being pulled from the water unconscious and responsive.
He was pronounced dead at Patong Hospital at 12:38pm.
Mr Che’s 15-year-old son, Che Ho Wa, told police that he and his father went swimming at Patong Beach at about 11am.
The pair entered the water where lifeguards had marked the area safe to swim with yellow-red flags.
However, they soon found themselves outside the safe swim zone, and in adjacent water marked with red- ‘no swimming’ flags. The son found himself some 50 metres from his father, who by this time was in obvious difficulty in the water.
Ho Wa tried to swim to help his father, but was unable to, prompting him to call for help.
A lifeguard recovered Mr Che and brought him back to the beach, but by this time he was unconscious and unresponsive. The lifeguards administered CPR until an emergency medical unit arrived. CPR was continued while en route to Patong Hospital, but to no avail.
The Chinese Consul in Phuket has been informed of the death, police confirmed.
Meanwhile at Karon Beach yesterday, a 57-year-old tourist from Kazakhstan died after being pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive.
The man, Yevgeniy Sapogov, was rushed to Chalong Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Pol Col Teerawat Yodtor, Deputy Superintendent (Investigation) at Karon Police, was informed of the death at 2:20pm.
Mr Sapogov had arrived in Phuket on holiday with his family of five. Yesterday was the family’s first day on the island.
Mr Sapogov went swimming about halfway along the beach. He soon encountered difficulty and began drowning in the surf.
He was brought ashore and administered CPR, and taken to Chalong Hospital, where he died en route, police reported.
Mr Sapogov’s body was transported to the Vachira Phuket Hospital morgue while police informed the Kazakh embassy of his death.