Dangerous Seas Claim Another LifeCANADIAN TOURIST DROWNS WHILE SWIMMING NEAR KHAO TAKIAB

Dangerous Seas Claim Another Life

CANADIAN TOURIST DROWNS WHILE SWIMMING NEAR KHAO TAKIAB

The body of a 63 year old Canadian tourist was recovered on 10th January from the sea off Sam Roi Yot district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, three days after he was swept away by strong waves while swimming. The ongoing search had been paused until sea conditions improved, but a local fishing boat spotted a body floating near Don Ta Khaeng sandbank, about one nautical mile offshore, and brought it ashore after reporting it to police. The deceased was noted immediately as a foreign male, approximately 60 years old, wearing grey swimwear, and with distinctive tattoos on the left shoulder and right arm. No wounds or signs of assault were found and authorities estimated that he had been dead for at least two days before being recovered, after which the body was taken to Sam Roi Yot Hospital for preservation.

A foreign tourist came forward later that day and confirmed the identity of the deceased as his friend, Mr Thom Gregory John, aged 63, a Canadian national, who police discovered had travelled to Hua Hin district on 7 January with two friends and checked into a local hotel. He later went swimming in the sea near the side of Wat Khao Takiab, despite strong waves, and was swept under and disappeared. At the time of the incident, officials launched a full search and rescue effort but were forced to halt operations due to sea waves measuring approximately two to three metres in height, which made conditions unsafe.

Mr John’s death has been recorded as consistent with drowning, and police will coordinate with relevant agencies and the Canadian embassy regarding formal procedures. Further steps will include arrangements for the handling and release of the body to relatives, while officials continue to remind the public and tourists to heed weather warnings and avoid swimming during periods of strong winds and high waves.

Above: The warning flag system used in Hua Hin

While the sea along the coast in and around Hua Hin is normally safe for swimming, there are times when warning flags are put out, which was the case on the day Mr John entered the water, although it is entirely possible that they were not visible, or he did not see them, when he did so at the point he entered. As the Journal has noted before, there are also dangerous rip tides present along this coast that can pull any swimmer, however good they are, far from the beach, and it could be that both the rough sea and one of these rip currents combined in this tragedy. We extend our condolences to Mr John’s family and friends.

There have been several such incidents over the years, mostly involving Thai tourists, and more frequently in Cha Am, so we urge everyone to look out for the flags that are put out to make people aware of current swimming conditions, with green indicating that it is safe, yellow urging caution, and red warning that you should not enter the water to swim; a further sign that should be noted is whether there is anyone else in the water, as well as your own personal judgement about weather and surf conditions and how strong a swimmer, and how familiar you are swimming in the sea. If in doubt, stay out, as well as checking with any locals, who are likely to have a good knowledge of current conditions at that location.

Main image: The beach on the south side of Khao Takiab (note that it is not known exactly where the deceased entered the water); Attribution – Athikhun.suw, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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