He continued by saying that lifeguards put up red flags where there is a likelihood of rip-currents. He carried on by saying that anybody who ignored the red warning flags and entered the water was endangering their own lives and those of lifeguards who were duty-bound to try and rescue them.
Phuket Lifeguard Club currently has a 98-strong team who patrol 12 beaches. During April alone, the club’s lifeguards had to rescue 35 swimmers who had got into trouble in the sea. The club’s figures show that 15 of these were Thai and the rest were foreign tourists.
Jula Nontree is the chief lifeguard at Nai Harn and he said six people were standing in seas that were only one-meter deep when a rogue wave swept them away. He added that the six had totally disregarded the red flags and verbal warnings, but lifeguards had to try and rescue them anyway.
The monsoon season on Phuket and the Andaman Sea region of Thailand usually begins in June and goes through until October. The monsoon period is also the low tourist season. Many frequent visitors say the Thai island is at its best when beaches are almost deserted.
Phuket lifeguards say beach red flags mean swimming is unsafe
News in Asia
Lifeguards on the west coast of Phuket Island have warned swimmers it is not safe to go in the sea when red flags are flying on beaches. Phuket Lifeguard Club boss Prathaiyut Chuayuan explained that rip tides are common in the lead up to, and during, the annual monsoon season.