British tourist drowns at Phuket beach

A British tourist drowned at Karon Beach in Phuket, Thailand, on Wednesday afternoon just hours after a bad weather warning was issued for the area.

Edward Joseph Brookes, 63, disappeared in the surf in front of the Karon Muncipality Stadium.

According to Nationmultimedia.com, Kata-Karon chief lifeguard Uten Singsom said: "By the time lifeguards noticed Mr Brookes was in trouble, he was about 70 meters from the shore."

Lifeguards rushed him back to shore but were unable to revive him.

Mr Brookes had enjoyed lunch with his 60-year-old wife, Marion, before heading out for a swim.

Mr Uten added: "While we were giving him CPR, beer came out his mouth. [Marion] confirmed that her husband drank beer with his lunch.

"She stayed on the beach, and had no idea what had happened until lifeguards brought her husband back on shore."

Efforts to revive him continued on his journey to Patong Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to the Phuket Gazette, Karon Beach, a popular tourist spot, is gaining a bad reputation for swimmer safety.

The paper reports that Norwegian tourist Chris Roger Hangsao, 55, also drowned there last Friday.

And, in late October, a Russian tourist and a Chinese holidaymaker also drowned within hours of each other at the same beach.

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