Search continues for man missing after entering rough sea at Naithon Beach

Authorities on May 16 opened a search center at Naithon Beach in Phuket after a man disappeared in the sea the previous evening. The unidentified Thai man entered the water at about 6:30pm on May 15 and was swept offshore by waves higher than 2 meters, while lifeguards were unable to reach him in time because of strong currents and rough conditions.

The search on Friday was limited to land because heavy surf prevented boats or swimmers from going out. Teams instead checked rocks and stretches of shoreline after an initial search was suspended at 7pm on Thursday without finding the man.

Lifeguard account and abandoned car

Pongphithak Prateep Na Thalang, an 18-year-old Naithon lifeguard who saw the incident, said he was clearing the beach between the wooden bridge area and the public park from about 6:30pm to 6:40pm when he noticed about 5 to 10 foreign visitors standing near the scene, none of whom appeared to realize someone was in trouble.

He then saw a man beyond the breaking waves during low tide, where the current was strong, and ran to get fins for a rescue attempt. By the time he returned, the man had vanished in what the lifeguard described as a swirling current that can quickly pull weak swimmers out to sea.

Lifeguards had flown red flags along the beach since morning and again warned people out of the water at about 6pm. Officials later found a silver-bronze Toyota Camry, license plate Kor Tor 4336 Chiang Rai, in the beach car park and took it to Sakhu Police Station to help trace the missing man’s relatives.

Source: https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5865897/