Australian woman dies after drowning in Phuket villa pool

A 45-year-old Australian woman died after being pulled from a three-metre-deep swimming pool at a luxury villa complex in Cape Yamu, Thalang, police said.

The woman had been staying at the complex with her husband and 14 relatives from 20 to 25 July. Her husband told investigators that the family returned from a jet-ski trip to Koh Naka at about 5:15pm before the woman, her husband and about eight relatives went swimming.

A relative noticed the woman in difficulty in the water. Family members pulled her from the pool, performed CPR and called emergency services. She was taken to Thalang Hospital, where doctors attempted to save her, but she was later pronounced dead at about 8pm.

Police and doctors made a preliminary determination that the cause of death was drowning. Her body remains at the hospital pending a full post-mortem examination.

Thalang Police said they would question relatives who were present, review CCTV footage and notify the Australian Embassy. The investigation is continuing. The woman’s name has not been released pending notification of her family in Australia.