British tourist dies in Thai resort just metres away from wife | World | News
A British pensioner has drowned in Thailand as he swam just metres away from his wife. The 91-year-old man was swimming at Lanta Pura Beach Resort on Koh Lanta Island, when the tragedy occurred on December 2.
He is understood to have been in the water for around an hour before clutching his chest and getting into difficulty. Lifeguards raced to his aid after seeing the man struggling to stay afloat and sinking under the surface. They are understood to have pulled him from the sea to the nearby sand, where his wife had been, but found his body to be lifeless.
Police Lieutenant Pongkorn Chuwait of the Koh Lanta Police Station, said the man did have a pacemaker fitted but no underlying medical issues had been found.
He said: “A background check revealed that the deceased had no underlying medical conditions, but had a pacemaker implanted in his chest.
“His wife is not suspicious of the cause of death. The body was sent to the hospital for a postmortem examination.”
The couple are understood to have arrived in the country on November 28 and were in the final days of their holiday when the man passed away.
The tragedy is the second to have involved Brits drowning in the country in the past week.
On Saturday, a 37-year-old British father died in Phuket while swimming with his partner at a popular beach.
Jason Mark Lambert, from Ipswich, was in the water with dozens of other tourists at Freedom Beach on the morning of Saturday, November 29 when he was suddenly struck by a powerful wave and swept away by a rip current.
Despite desperate efforts by fellow holidaymakers to save him, the father-of-one could not be revived.
He had been paddling close to shore with his wife when the emergency happened at about 11.30am.
Two other swimmers were also pulled out to sea at the same time, but both were rescued alive after being brought back to the beach.
Witness Chariya Thaweerat Howells, 31, described how attention initially focused on the two shouting swimmers, meaning Mr Lambert went under unnoticed.
She said: “The sea looked rough and we had only been there a few minutes when we heard cries for help.
“Everyone ran to assist. A Thai man launched a kayak and managed to reach the two struggling tourists and get them safely to shore.
“Only then did people realise a third man was being washed in. By the time they dragged him onto the sand his face was already pale and yellowish.”
An initial examination by Dr Punthanika Chaithienthong of Patong Hospital concluded accidental drowning. The British Embassy has been informed and the family raised no objections to the findings.
Mr Lambert’s body has been released to his relatives for repatriation and funeral arrangements.
