Three more dead as Phuket’s beautiful waters and shoreline claims more lives during extended season

November 4, 2025

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Three more dead as Phuket’s beautiful waters and shoreline claims more lives during extended season

Phuket’s paradise beaches turn deadly as three people are swept away and drowned within days. Hidden rip currents drag swimmers under in seconds while calm water fools tourists and warnings are ignored as rescue teams search in raging surf with fading hope.

On Monday morning, the seemingly calm waters off Nai Thon Beach turned deadly as a sudden surge tore 31-year-old Russian tourist Dmitrii Zakutskii from his friends and dragged him under. By the time rescuers arrived, he was gone, leaving stunned companions staring at a merciless sea. Just two days earlier at Bang Tao Beach, a 42-year-old Thai man and his 13-year-old nephew were also swept to their deaths in seconds. Phuket’s postcard paradise is now a danger zone, where beautiful waters hide lethal rips and rising fatalities. As bodies disappear and warnings go ignored, officials scramble — and a brutal question hangs in the air: how many more will the sea take this season?

Friends of 31-year-old Russian tourist Dmitrii Zakutskii spoke with police on Monday, stunned after a sudden wave ripped him away and dragged him under. Just days earlier, a Thai man and his young nephew were also swept to their deaths on Phuket’s northwest coast. (Source: Phuket News)

Phuket’s turquoise waters continue to conceal lethal danger. A 31-year-old Russian tourist is now feared drowned after disappearing in heavy surf at Nai Thon Beach. Authorities say the man, named as Dmitrii Zakutskii, vanished on Monday morning while swimming with friends. He is now presumed to be the latest victim in a relentless series of tragedies along Phuket’s west coast.

The incident happened at about 9 am. According to police, a powerful wave struck without warning. It dragged Mr Zakutskii beneath the surface. He did not return. His companions panicked and called for help.

Emergency responders arrived at 10:14 am. However, the sea was already raging. Local rescue divers battled strong currents and breaking waves. They searched near the southern end of the beach, where the group had entered the water. But despite determined efforts, the ocean gave nothing back.

Tranquil Phuket beaches hide lethal monsoon currents as tourists mistake calm water for safe swimming spots

Nai Thon Beach appears calm and idyllic. It sits quietly on Phuket’s northwest shoreline, away from nightlife and crowds. The water is usually clear. The sand is soft and pale. Luxury resorts dot the hills at either end. Restaurants and small shops line one simple road. Yet beneath this peaceful image lies real danger, especially during monsoon months.

Importantly, Nai Thon forms part of Sirinath Marine National Park. Turtle nests appear here between November and February. Tourists come seeking tranquillity. Unfortunately, many underestimate the sea. They assume a quiet beach equals a safe swim. It does not.

This latest disappearance follows two tragic deaths at Bang Tao Beach only days earlier. On Saturday afternoon, 42-year-old Phumisak Chantajaem and his 13-year-old nephew, Natthawipa Sriprasit, were swept away.

The pair entered the water halfway along the beach. Red flags were raised. Lifeguards had issued warnings. Even so, the surf looked enticing. Seconds later, they were fighting for their lives.

Red flags ignored at Bang Tao as uncle and nephew swept away despite lifeguards and clear warnings in place

Bang Tao Beach is also on the island’s northwest coast. It is a crescent-shaped beach known for its beauty and being a particularly long stretch of white sand.

Despite lifeguards launching jet-skis and rescue boards, both vanished beneath heavy waves. Rescue teams responded rapidly. They deployed six jet-skis, drones, shore patrols, and divers from the Kusoldharm Foundation. They searched until the sea forced them out at dusk.

The operation resumed at first light on Sunday. Once again, waves battered the shoreline. Teams pressed on. Finally, late Sunday night, patrols located both bodies near the original search site. Relatives were notified. Emotional scenes followed on the sand.

Officials stressed that red flags mean immediate danger. Still, some swimmers continue ignoring warnings. Some simply do not know. Others overestimate their strength. Lifeguards warn that confidence is often fatal here.

Rising toll highlights deadly mix of powerful surf, false confidence and ignored lifeguard warnings

Additionally, these cases form part of a worrying pattern. Phuket typically records around 30 to 40 drowning deaths a year. Many victims are tourists unfamiliar with monsoon currents. Beaches look calm from shore. But the currents below can be invisible and brutal.

Just last month, two more foreign tourists drowned within hours. One died at Nai Yang Beach. Another disappeared at Nai Harn Beach later the same day. Those tragedies pushed the annual toll near 40. They again highlighted how paradise can turn deadly fast.

Nai Yang, like Nai Thon, lies inside Sirinath National Park. It feels peaceful and remote. Families stroll on the sand. Local fishermen work quietly offshore. Yet violent currents lurk beneath the warm surface. In October, a middle-aged foreign man was found unconscious there. He died shortly afterwards in hospital. Authorities struggled even to identify him.

Only hours later, at Nai Harn Beach, 21-year-old Chinese tourist Yuan Wen Yi vanished in rough surf. Strong waves overwhelmed him before rescuers could reach him. Teams searched until conditions forced them to stop. The scene left tourists shaken and lifeguards exhausted.

Furthermore, emergency crews say rip currents strike hardest in the first five minutes. Swimmers fight the water. They lose strength. Panic overwhelms them. As a result, even strong swimmers drown before help arrives.

Monsoon rips strike fast as tourists drown within minutes despite rescue efforts across multiple beaches

Rip currents here can pull a person hundreds of meters offshore. They sometimes appear as narrow channels of churning water. They often look harmless. Yet they behave like underwater conveyor belts. Fighting them is almost impossible.

Lifeguards stress one rule: never swim against a rip. Float. Breathe. Swim parallel to the shore. But tourists rarely know this.

Meanwhile, Phuket’s monsoon season from May to October magnifies every hazard. Swells rise fast. Sand shifts underfoot. Hidden drop-offs form. Debris moves in the surf. Waves slam unexpectedly. Beaches that seem gentle in February can become violent by June. The danger this year now appears to have extended into November with the latest three deaths.

Authorities admit communication remains a challenge. Multilingual signs exist but are often ignored. Hotels provide warnings, but not all guests listen. Social media posts show tourists swimming beside red flags. Some laugh at danger. A few pay the ultimate price.

Season extends into November as warnings ignored and currents intensify, turning paradise into a death trap

However, officials are increasing efforts. They now issue daily surf alerts. Lifeguards patrol earlier and later. Councils have ordered clearer signage. Tourist police conduct beach briefings. Hotel staff receive safety reminders. But warnings only help if visitors respect them.

Phuket’s rescue workers face both the sea and human stubbornness. They describe preventable losses. In addition, they describe frantic parents, stunned friends, and shattered families. Notably, they remind everyone that tragedy here begins in seconds and ends in silence.

Moreover, local lifeguards say the job is relentless. Certainly, they run toward danger as others relax on the sand. They dive into unpredictable water. Indeed, they fight currents themselves to save strangers. However, they cannot watch every swimmer. Presently, they ask for one thing: obedience to red flags.

For Mr Zakutskii’s friends, this holiday will never be forgotten. A morning swim became a nightmare. Search teams continue to scan the shoreline. Boats patrol offshore. Drones sweep above. Rescuers remain determined. However, each hour reduces hope. The Andaman Sea rarely returns what it takes.

Lifeguards exhausted as tragedies mount and rescuers search relentlessly, while tourists ignore red flags

Phuket authorities now repeat urgent advice. Swim only where lifeguards patrol. Avoid the water when red flags fly. Respect posted warnings. Ask locals about conditions. Never swim alone. Never assume calm water means safe water. Above all, treat the sea with caution.

Phuket remains one of the world’s most visited island destinations. Its beaches attract millions. Its ocean scenery feels irresistible. Yet beauty here carries force. Rip currents do not care if a swimmer is experienced or confident. They do not pause for hesitation.

Every year, tourists arrive unaware of monsoon patterns. They see postcards, not rescue boards. They see holiday calm, not grieving families. Yet lifeguards measure every season in lives lost and lives saved.

Locals brace for rising toll as Phuket urges tourists to obey flags and respect the sea’s deadly power

As search teams continue their work at Nai Thon Beach, locals watch the waves and shake their heads. They know this pattern. It repeats each monsoon. They pray for fewer names added to Phuket’s tragic tally.

2 more tourists drown off Phuket’s idyllic but deadly beaches on Wednesday as drownings toll mounts

Phuket’s deadly monsoon seas claim two further lives as rescuers recover bodies off shorelines Monday

Two more lives lost off Phuket’s treacherous coastline, prompting calls for increased safety awareness

Still, officials warn that unless tourists change their behaviour, deaths will continue. The message is simple. Phuket’s seas can be gentle in one moment and deadly in the next. Respect it or risk everything.

Holidaymakers come for paradise. They must remember paradise has power. In Phuket, ignoring that power is presently costing lives.