The vibrant island resort of Phuket, a much-sought-after vacation spot in Thailand, has unfortunately made headlines for a series of drowning mishaps recently. Over a brief five-day window, four tourists tragically lost their lives to these incidents. The most recent debacle claimed two young tourists from India while enjoying an evening swim at Karon Beach.
Prompted by a distress call at around 8.14pm, Patrol officer Chomphunutch Anahtayakul from the Patong Police Station in Phuket was informed of a double drowning tragedy. The drowned tourists were then declared deceased at Patong Hospital. The victims were identified as Wemah Hashid and Sajer Jatawat, both aged 26 years and natives of India.
According to the findings of officer Chomphunutch’s investigation, the incident happened on the eve of August 1, at around 6.30pm. Hashid, Jatawat, and a third friend ventured to have a swim near the renowned Naga statue on Karon Beach. Without warning, a large wave overpowered Hashid and Jatawat, dragging them into the vast ocean. Their companion was successful in extracting them from the rough waters and attempted CPR before the medical response team arrived.
Despite immediate medical intervention, the two men’s lives could not be restored, as reported by KhaoSod. Hashid was rushed to Patong Hospital and was declared deceased at around 9pm. Jatawat’s life also ended at Chalong Hospital later that evening. The preliminary conclusion by the medical team suggested that cardiac arrest, triggered by the drowning, was the cause of death for both men.
At the accident spot were red flags, cautiously warning of unsafe swimming conditions brought on by the strong winds and towering waves. Irrespective of the emblematic warnings, the trio decided to venture into the evening waters, leading to this unfortunate catastrophe. The third individual succeeded in escaping the hostile waters unharmed and was released back to his accommodation after a medical check.
In the aftermath of this tragic incident, Phuket authorities compiled a formal death report. The matter has been handed over to the Indian embassy for the initiation of funeral proceedings as per their customs. In the light of these repeated incidents, Phuket authorities are emphatic in their appeal to tourists to respect the flag warnings at the beach. They stress the importance of safeguarding lives and avoiding future distressing incidents of similar nature.
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