Freedom Beach closed after German tourist dies at sea
Phuket’s Freedom Beach has been closed to visitors and swimmers while officials monitor dangerous sea and weather conditions following the death of a German tourist.
Freedom Beach in Phuket has been temporarily closed to general access and swimming after a German tourist died while swimming there, with officials warning of dangerous monsoon conditions.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin ordered the Royal Forest Department (RFD) to strengthen safety measures and monitor sea and weather conditions before considering a reopening.
The move followed the death of 30-year-old German tourist Jannik Juergen Knobel, who was swept out to sea on Monday, Aug 10. His body was found floating near the beach at about 3pm on Tuesday after an overnight search.
Suchart said public safety must be prioritised during the monsoon season, when strong winds and waves affect the Andaman coast. In some areas, he said, waves could reach two to three metres or more during thunderstorms.
The RFD assigned Pornsarn Kuntalsurakan, director of the Phuket Forestry Center and head of the Freedom Beach Recreation Area, to implement additional safety measures. Department records show particularly strong winds and waves at the beach between Aug 12 and 31 each year.
Officials will assess conditions daily and consider reopening the beach when the sea and weather are safe. Visitors have been urged to follow official warnings and avoid entering the water during periods of strong winds and waves.
