Warning: Rip currents at Patong Beach, Phuket

[Beachlover]

If you visit Phuket/Patong Beach in the non-peak periods when the sea's a bit rougher and go for a swim at the beach, be VERY careful, even if you're a strong swimmer.

Even when you're only waist-high water, it's easy to get knocked off your feat by a sudden wave and pulled out by the strong rip current that follows.

The rip currents are unusually strong on Patong Beach and even locals get caught off guard. I was chatting to a boy in the surf one evening at sunset and he warned me to be careful. He said he was previously pulled out by a current, struggled in the water and woke up in hospital, very lucky to have survived. Someone must've gone out, rescued and resuscitated him - lucky boy.

This quick video shows you what a rip current is and how to avoid it:

[youtube:jqud5fb0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hCZuYzNujI[/youtube:jqud5fb0]

[Beachlover]

Australian women recently drowned on one of Phuket's beaches (not Patong).

From experience, the rip currents around this time of the year and next month (August) are really strong on Patong Beach. Easy to be perfectly fine standing in waist-high water one moment and then knocked off your feet, pulled out and drowning the next moment.

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From: http://www.smh.com.au/world/aussie-woma ... 1h1q9.html (http://www.smh.com.au/world/aussie-woman-missing-after-going-for-dusk-swim-in-phuket-20110706-1h1q9.html)

Aussie woman missing after going for dusk swim in Phuket
Glenda Kwek
July 6, 2011 - 3:51PM

An Australian tourist is missing after swimming at a Phuket beach known for its treacherous conditions, reports say.

Jennifer Laidley, 44, a nurse who travelled to Thailand with her friend Lisa Crosland, went swimming at Karon Beach about 7pm on Monday night and has not been seen since.

A search of the beach by the Thai royal navy, marine police, lifeguards and local police was undertaken yesterday but the Queanbeyan woman was not found, Alan Morison, the editor of Phuketwan.com, said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/aussie-woma ... z1S0j4n700 (http://www.smh.com.au/world/aussie-woman-missing-after-going-for-dusk-swim-in-phuket-20110706-1h1q9.html#ixzz1S0j4n700)
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Looks like she was found...
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From: http://www.smh.com.au/world/body-on-tha ... 1h3xv.html (http://www.smh.com.au/world/body-on-thai-beach-that-of-aussie-tourist-20110707-1h3xv.html)

Body on Thai beach that of Aussie tourist
July 7, 2011

The body washed ashore on Phuket's Karon Beach this morning has been identified as that of Canberra Hospital nurse Jennifer Laidley who went missing on Monday.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/body-on-tha ... z1S0jSNrSA (http://www.smh.com.au/world/body-on-thai-beach-that-of-aussie-tourist-20110707-1h3xv.html#ixzz1S0jSNrSA)
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[psd1315]

Great information, hope it will save some lives.

Thank You
:bee:

[Thor69]

How about taking LMTU swimming there? :glasses7:

How about taking LMTU swimming there? :glasses7:

:laughing3: :laughing3: :laughing3:

[bao-bao]

That was a very thorough and clear explanation in the clip - thanks for that. VERY good advice, especially for folks who aren't very strong swimmers to begin with - and that could easily include vacationers who aren't physically active at home and are just looking to cool off or take a leisurely dip in the ocean.