Foreign tourist rescued after entering rough seas at Phuket’s Patong Beach
Lifeguards rescued a foreign tourist at Patong Beach on 20 August after he entered rough seas despite red-flag warnings.
A foreign tourist was rescued from rough seas at Patong Beach in Phuket on 20 August after entering the water despite red-flag warnings and repeated instructions from lifeguards.
The tourist reportedly told lifeguards that he was a strong swimmer. He was later swept away by waves and currents and could not return to shore.
Lifeguards reached him using a jet ski and a yellow rescue board, then brought him safely back to the beach.
Thanpisit Saengrat, a lifeguard stationed near Patong Beach’s Bangla area, said lifeguards had handled two similar incidents that day. He said tourists ignored red-flag warnings almost every day, with some questioning why they could not swim despite the warnings.
“Don’t think being a strong swimmer means you’ll survive,” Thanpisit said, warning that rip currents could quickly carry swimmers away from shore. He also said intoxicated tourists sometimes entered the water, increasing the risk.
Amarin TV reported that Patong Beach stretches for about 3 kilometres and has around 10 lifeguard stations, each staffed by approximately three to four people. Thanpisit said two drowning incidents had occurred in the Bangla area over the previous month.
In serious incidents, lifeguards use jet skis and rescue equipment to reach swimmers in difficulty, bring them ashore and provide CPR when necessary.
