A 41-year-old and a 22-year old have reportedly drowned in Thailand in the space of a week.
Last week, two tourists from Australia drowned in Thailand in separate incidents. On May 6, 22-year-old Corey Walsh from Melbourne was pulled underwater while swimming on an island south of Phuket. On May 7, 41-year-old Anthony John Heathcote was reported missing by his wife, and three days later, his body was found on Freedom Beach in Phuket. The two back-to-back incidents serve as a grim reminder that sea conditions can turn deadly, and tourists should monitor local advisories closely.
Corey Walsh was a plumber and aspiring Muay Thai boxer. He was traveling with six close friends at the time of his death. According to his sister, he was in Thailand to attend a four-week camp at the Rattachai Muay Thai camp, and just three days before the incident, his friends joined him. All of them were on a chartered ship, where they fished and then stopped to snorkel. He jumped into the waters off the coast of Koh Racha Yai but couldn’t keep himself afloat due to strong currents. He was also under the influence of alcohol at the time, and when the medics arrived, they administered CPR. He was rushed to the hospital but was unfortunately pronounced dead on arrival.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Kanen Somrak stated that the young tourist had consumed alcohol before entering the water. “He was reportedly intoxicated and repeatedly jumped in and out of the sea before eventually drowning.”
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A GoFundMe has been set up to raise funds for his family, and it has collected AUD 17,000 ($10,000).
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Another Australian man tragically died in Phuket last week. On May 7, Anthony John Heathcote’s wife reported him missing. The 41-year-old from South Australia had come to Thailand on April 20 for a holiday. On May 10, local authorities found his lifeless body on Freedom Beach in Phuket, about 65 feet from the shore. His body was floating in the water amid strong surf conditions, and rescue teams used ropes to secure it and bring it to the beach.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, but police believe that the currents were too strong for him. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wiwat Chamnankit said, “Tourists should not go in the sea during these conditions when there are strong waves, unless they are with an experienced guide.”
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The U.K. Foreign Office warns travelers to exercise caution when swimming in Thailand due to strong currents, as people have drowned. “Take care when swimming, diving, kayaking, or white-water rafting in rivers or close to waterfalls, particularly in the rainy season. Currents can be extremely strong.”
Earlier this year, Pattaya officials also reminded swimmers to stick to designated swimming areas, as they are patrolled by lifeguards, especially during heavy tourist seasons. The currents can change unexpectedly, and swimming in dangerous zones can lead to injuries or drowning. “We urge all beachgoers, especially tourists unfamiliar with the local waters, to stay within the safe swimming zones,” a spokesperson said.
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