I read this on thaivisa.com but cant find out any more info ... anybody in Phuket know what happened ?



Phuket kitesurfer not stung, didn't drown, say lifeguards
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: Phuket lifeguards have dismissed the assertion that the American kitesurfer who died shortly after being pulled from the sea at Nai Harn Beach yesterday drowned or was stung by a jellyfish.

Nai Harn lifeguard Charintorn Naripen told the Phuket Gazette, “Four of us tried for 20 minutes to revive the casualty before the ambulance arrived. We don’t believe he drowned as he did not throw up any liquid. Also, the location when he raised the alarm was very close to the beach.

“Even though we’ve found about five bluebottles [stingers] on Nai Harn Beach every day, we found no trace of them on him, so we’re quite sure he didn’t die from that,” he said.

Mr Charintorn added that the wind yesterday was quite strong, and that kitesurfers usually do not venture out when the wind is too strong.

The identity of the American kite surfer has not been released as relatives have yet to be informed, the Gazette was told.

Staff at Bangkok Hospital Phuket today said they had yet to identify the cause of death and were awaiting contact from the US Embassy.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/559 ... ican-dies/

Phuket beach toll rises as kitesurfing American dies
Phuket Gazette


The strong, sustained winds off Nai Harn make it one of the most popular spots in Thailand for kitesurfing enthusiasts, and the American who died was reportedly a regular on the beach.

PHUKET: -- An American kitesurfer died en route to hospital after being pulled from the surf at Phuket's Nai Harn Beach around noon today.

The man, whose name has not been released to the press, had been kitesurfing earlier that morning. He was seen by beach vendors struggling in shallow water after heading back to shore.

“We saw him floating in the shallow water, maybe 20 centimeters deep, close to shore. He had yelled something, but we thought he was making a joke,” said Somchai Ketsiri, a beach vendor who witnessed the event.

“Then we saw him caught up in a couple of waves and we could tell that he was weak.

"Then he was floating face down in the water,” Mr Somchai explained.

Mr Somchai rushed into the water to help and was assisted in pulling the kitesurfer ashore by a foreigner who happened to be close by.

Lifeguards called to the scene reportedly took first aid measures for the twenty minutes it took the Vachira Phuket Hospital ambulance to arrive.

During the transfer the man stopped breathing.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at Bangkok Phuket Hospital, a staff member there confirmed.

Hospital staff have not yet released the specific cause of death to the press.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16080.html

Sad to hear this...my condolences.

It sounds very strange, would be good to know from what he died to understand his death.

Condolences to the family and friends.
very sad.

I am sorry for this man's loss, my condolences to his family and friends.

There are some comments from locals or people at the scene at the bottom of one of the news posts. None of this information explains what happened at this point.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/559476-phuket-beach-toll-rises-as-kitesurfing-american-dies/

Some more details are in http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-kite-surfer-dies-rescue-phuket-beach-16064/

Sad times for the kitesurfing community in Thailand.
Ten days earlier, in Koh Phan Ngan, a French rider got caught in a very strong gust and was lofted and dragged along the road. He was rushed to hospital in very critical condition, with poor prognosis of survival.
My heartfelt condolences to families concerned.

What? Thailand finally had good wind for the first time in history and I missed it? Yes, double tragedy.

nup, there is no good wind here anywhere anytime ... forecasts are always wrong ...

... some guys just don't get it do they ... ... a fellow kiter has died here - getit now tikka ?

Anyone knows anything more about this? There was one newspaper that said it was paraglider not kitesurfer who landed in the water. Other newspapers still say kitesurfer, to be updated. A paragliding friend of a friend says on FB it was indeed a kitesurfer jumping huge waves. The wind was too strong for paragliding. Other reports say he did not die of drowning and that he died after his kite session. Whatever happened it is very sad. Jokes about the wind not tasteful in this thread.

Some advice about the Phuket spots for future safety:

Nai harn: I have seen people kitesurf at Naiharn. Does not look an ideal spot. Very strong surf, breaks and rocks at the end of the beach. Probably fun on perfect days in the huge waves but scary. Mountains all around should make wind gusty.

Karon - has strong rip currents and very strong surf.

Kata - too much people. Think there are rip currents at Kata as well.

Patong - Have surfed Patong on strong wind. Was ok but many boats and lines in the water.

Nai Yang - Maybe the most popular spot in the westerly monsoon season. Go here if you want to explore kitesurfing in the low season. Many surfers and kite surf centers available. People to look after you a little. Surf is not at all as strong, still some nice waves near the reef on some days.

Bangtao - The north end of Bangtao looks great. Have not seen many kitesurfer here. If you bring some friends it could be good.

Swimming: Swimming seems very dangerous in the low season when it is windy. Again NaiYang looks safest. Do not ignore red flags. Most beaches have no life guards. Seen reports about elite sportsmen almost drowning .