The chief lifeguard was on his morning patrol at Karon Police Station in Phuket when he spotted the body of a male floating around 65ft from shore before calling emergency responders
The near-nude body of a tourist has been found floating off the coast of a beach in Thailand, wearing only his underwear.
The unidentified male, believed to be a 41-year-old Australian, was reported missing by his wife on May 7 in Phuket. The chief lifeguard at Thailand’s Freedom Beach, which is hugely popular with tourists, spotted the body drifting around 65ft from the shore while on his morning patrol. After raising the alarm, officers from Karon Police Station arrived and emergency responders secured the body – which was unclothed apart from a pair of black underpants – with ropes before dragging it to shore among strong surf conditions.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Wiwat Chamnankit confirmed that the family’s next of kin has been informed “that his body has been found”. The police “believe that the sea currents were too strong for him to swim back to land”.
“Tourists should not go in the sea during these conditions when there are strong waves, unless they are with an experienced guide,” he added. A formal autopsy is expected in due course after his body was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital.
It comes after another Aussie tourist died while holidaying in the same area in Thailand. Corey Walsh is thought to have died after diving from a tour boat while intoxicated.
The tragic incident happened on Tuesday May 6 when Corey boarded a boat to enjoy a 45 minute to an hour tour off the coast of Phuket leaving from the island of Koh Racha Yai. During the trip Mr Walsh dived off the Marinda 2 tour boat and into the water.
The young Australian tourist, who is a tradesman from Frankston, Melbourne, jumped into the water near a popular snorkelling spot. But, tragedy struck when he could no longer fight against the strong current and he is believed to have been dragged underwater.
Emergency services were called at about 2.28pm local time after Mr Walsh was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive. Upon arrival at the port medics immediately administered CPR while Mr Walsh was still on the deck of the boat before rushing him by ambulance to Chalong Hospital in Phuket – a 15 minute car journey.
Sadly despite the best efforts of medical staff at the hospital Mr Walsh was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Police Lieutenant Colonel Kanen Somrak from the Chalong Police Station said Mr Walsh was one of seven foreign tourists on the tour boat.
He said: “The victim had consumed a large amount of alcohol before entering the wate. He was reportedly intoxicated and repeatedly jumped in and out of the sea before eventually drowning.”
He also confirmed no illegal substances were found at the scene and only empty alcohol beverage bottle was discovered, reports MailOnline.