Searchers discovered the body of 27-year-old Chinese tourist Qin Yuan on rocks near Freedom Beach in Phuket on Monday. He had been missing since going swimming at Karon Beach on Thursday night. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist who had disappeared after going for a swim at Karon Beach on Thursday night was found tragically washed up on the rocks close to Freedom Beach in Muang district on Monday morning. A local fisherman stumbled upon the grim scene and quickly notified the authorities. It was around 9:30 a.m. when Pol Col Khundet Na Nong Khai, the chief of Karon police, received the call.
Responders arrived promptly where Qin Yuan’s lifeless body lay face-down on the rugged terrain. The remains were subsequently transported to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a thorough post-mortem examination.
The discovery was promptly relayed to the Chinese consular office in Phuket. According to the police, Qin, 27, was last seen around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evening.
Karon Mayor Jadet Wicharasor revealed that a Chinese couple had rented a surfboard earlier on Thursday evening, returning it around 6:30 p.m. The pair then took to the waters again for a nighttime swim at around 7:30 p.m., by which time the beach was enveloped in darkness, and the lifeguards had already left their posts for the night. It was a fateful decision that would soon turn tragic.
Panic set in when Karon municipal officials alerted the local rescue teams that a distressed woman was frantically searching for her missing husband. This set off an immediate and extensive search effort, with municipal, police, and the 3rd Naval Fleet deploying teams to scour the area for the missing swimmer.
The municipality had taken precautionary measures, erecting no-swimming signs in four languages—Chinese, English, Russian, and Thai—and marking the high-risk zones with conspicuous red flags along the beach. However, these warnings often went unheeded by beachgoers.
Shockingly, Qin was the ninth drowning victim of the year on the island of Phuket. Among these tragedies, five were foreigners. Despite the presence of 115 lifeguards stationed at beaches around the scenic tourist haven, such unfortunate incidents continue to occur, as confirmed by the provincial office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
Such an avoidable tragedy! Why did he swim at night when lifeguards aren’t available?
I agree, it’s baffling. But maybe he wasn’t aware of the dangers.
Ignorance isn’t an excuse, especially with all the signs and warnings up. Tourists need to take responsibility!
Yes, the signs were everywhere. It’s so sad that people ignore them.
Sometimes tourists feel invincible on holiday. They don’t realize how quickly things can go wrong.
That doesn’t make it any less tragic. Perhaps more visible warnings or restrictions are needed.
This is heartbreaking… Just goes to show that safety measures aren’t foolproof…
True, but what more can authorities do? People need to follow the rules themselves.
Education about these risks before they visit these beaches might help. Safety brochures, anyone?
Phuket seems to have a lot of drowning cases. Is it really that dangerous to swim there?
Yes, the currents can be very strong and unpredictable. Local knowledge is key.
It’s mainly about tourists not respecting the sea’s power. Educating them is crucial.
Nine drownings this year, and it’s only October! Serious action needed!
True, but also tourists need to stop ignoring the red flags and warnings.
I was at Karon Beach last year, it’s beautiful but the currents are scary. Stay safe people!
Maybe lifeguards need to work longer hours, especially during peak tourist seasons.
While that might help, it’s also not fair to expect lifeguards to be there 24/7.
What about employing more lifeguards in shifts? It could be a solution!
Yes, rotating shifts could work without exhausting the lifeguards.
It’s just so sad. My heart goes out to his family.
Can’t even imagine the pain they’re going through. Senseless tragedy.
This makes me so angry. How many more people need to die before stricter laws are enforced?
Laws only work if people obey them. Tourists need more education about these dangers.
True, but stricter enforcement and penalties might make people think twice.
You can’t fix stupid. Sorry, but it’s the truth. So many drownings could be avoided if people used common sense.
Is there any way technology could help? Like automatic alerts or drones patrolling the waters?
As a surfer, this hits close to home. People underestimate the sea. Let’s push for better awareness!
Ugh, this is infuriating and tragic. Communication about local risks should be clear to every visitor.
So tragic. Maybe more patrolling before sunset could help to ensure no one is in danger before it’s too dark.
That might help some, but realistically, people need to be responsible for their own safety too.
True, but can’t hurt to try and help those who aren’t fully aware of the risks.
RIP Qin Yuan. Let’s not forget about the others who’ve drowned too. Each life matters.