Chinese tourist drowns at Phuket beach after ignoring red flag
A Chinese woman was washed out to sea and drowned when she and a Chinese man were hit by large waves at the Nai Harn beach in Phuket on Monday evening, police said.
The rescue operation unit of the Tambon Rawai Municipality was alerted by lifeguards at the Muang district beach to send help at 7pm.
The lifeguards managed to save Jing Tao, 33, and he was rushed to Chalong Hospital, then forwarded to Vachira Phuket Hospital where he was declared safe.
But the Chinese woman (name not provided) was swept out to sea. Police were not sure about the relationship between the two tourists.
The woman’s body later washed ashore near The Nai Harn Hotel. Her body was sent for a post-mortem at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The Chinese Consular Office has been informed and are expected to contact her relatives.
Lifeguards said they were flying a red flag throughout the day to warn tourists against swimming. Two lifeguards returned home at dusk, leaving only a standby.
The two tourists had violated the ban, said the lifeguards.