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A BRIT has tragically died while swimming off the coast of a holiday island in Thailand after cops say he ignored the red flags.
The 43-year-old businessman was reportedly dragged away from the shore at Karon Beach, Phuket, by a rip current that was so strong whirlpools could be seen in the surf.
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The man was there with half a dozen friends and was in the water with one of them when tragedy struck, police said.
A pal on the beach raised the alarm and helped to pull the man back from the water onto the sand and a lifeguard aided with CPR.
Paramedics arrived and continued to try and save his life, but he could not be revived.
Cops said the man had defied the safety warnings in place along the beach.
Speaking about the drowning, Lieutenant Colonel Eakkasak Fanwhan said: “The sea along the coast of Phuket is very dangerous but even more than normal at this time of the year.
“There are hidden currents that can make people disorientated.
“It is important that everyone avoids going into the sea, even if they are experienced swimmers.
“There are red flags on the beach at the most dangerous areas.”
Colonel Khundet Na Nong Khai, Superintendent of the Karon Police Station, added: “The incident happened at around 4:10 pm.
“The victim came with a group of six or seven tourists, but went to play in the water at the beach with two other friends.
“One of them went to play in the water with him, while the other was on the beach. He was the only one who had difficulties.
“The friend on the beach raised the alarm and a lifeguard helped.
“The death happened at a location where there are strong rip currents and whirlpools. Karon Beach and Kata Beach are very dangerous and there are red flags warning that swimming is prohibited.
“The victim may not have noticed the flags or he may have intentionally disobeyed the warnings before he went to play. He was then sucked into the channel and could not cope with the strength of the current.
“When the police officers arrived at the scene, paramedics were already performing CPR. He was taken to hospital but later died.”
Phuket sits on Thailand’s western-facing Andaman Coast and has deadly seasonal tides and strong waves that lash during the monsoon season from September to December.
In June this year, Belgian tourist Allan Deraut Luvovadio, 28, from Chatelet, drowned in Phuket.
A few days earlier, US veteran James Everett du Bois, 49, was swimming with his family at Nai Harn Beach on the same island when he was swept away by a powerful current.
The Foreign Office has been approached for comment.
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