Two tourists drown in Phuket

Ukrainian Viktor Pravoyuk, 59, got into trouble at the stretch of Patong Beach in front of Loma Park in Patong in the early afternoon last Friday and was pronounced dead at 1:45pm at Patong Hospital.

Jukkapong Luang-On of the Kathu Police said the victim struggled in the heavy surf and drowned before lifeguards were able to reach him.

As of today, Mr Pravoyuk’s family has yet to contact the police and his body remains in the Patong Hospital morgue.

Lt Jukkapong urges Mr Pravoyuk’s family to contact the Kathu Police (Tel: 076-342719-20) as soon as possible to advise them on funeral or repatriation arrangements.

The second victim, 37-year-old Latvian national Alvars Vanags, drowned at the stretch of Karon Beach across from the South Sea Karon Resort, just south of the traffic circle, on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Vanags was staying at the Movenpick Resort in Karon with his wife and three sons.

Mr Vanags disappeared beneath heavy surf at about 4pm as his family looked on in horror.

Members of the local beach guard recovered his body and rushed him to Patong Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.