- The tourist is the second American to drown in Thailand in 2 weeks
- Last week, James Everett du Bois, 49, drowned in Phuket
An American tourist and his Thai girlfriend have drowned after allegedly ignoring a red flag weather warning at a beach in Thailand.
James Edmond Newman, 45, from New York, was washed ashore, while Waranya Chanphai, 48, from Surin province, was found floating off Mai Khao Beach in Phuket on Monday morning, according to the Bangkok Post.
According to Police Major Ronnapoom Permpoon of the Thachatchai Police Station said cops received a report at 7:07 am, Bangkok Post reported.
Authorities arrived at the scene and found the American man only wearing black shorts, with bruises on his back, believed to have been caused by the impact of the waves.
The Thai woman was found floating in the seawater a few feet off-shore.
The bodies were taken to the Thalang Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the causes of death.
Police said the pair had checked into a nearby hotel on June 16, then went to swim at the beach the following morning.
Ronnapoom said: ‘It is believed that one of them was swept away by a wave, and when the other went to help, they too were struck and drowned. However, we are still investigating the exact cause of death.’
Village council leader Winai Sae-aew said hotel staff called to inform him that a foreigner had drowned in front of the hotel.
He said: ‘I immediately went to the scene and alerted the rescue team and police. Residents also assisted with retrieving both of their bodies.
Medics attend as American tourist and girlfriend drown on Thai beach
James Edmond Newman, 45, from New York, was washed ashore, while Waranya Chanphai, 48, from Surin province, was found floating off Mai Khao Beach in Phuket on Monday morning,
Police said the pair had checked into a nearby hotel on June 16, then went to swim at Mai Khao beach in Thailand the following morning
The bodies were taken to the Thalang Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the causes of death
‘They may have been guests of Mai Khao Palm Beach Resort and were swimming in the morning when there was no lifeguard present, but there was a red flag put up.
Newman is the second US citizen to drown in Thailand in the last two weeks.
On Sunday, a US army vet was swept out to sea while trying to save his toddler son and wife.
James Everett du Bois, 49, went swimming with his Thai wife, Siriarmorn Phetarwut, 49, and their son Boonpat, aged three, at the Nai Harn Beach in Phuket, Thailand, on Sunday afternoon.
A powerful current reportedly swept the family away from the shore and deeper into the churning waters around 4.50pm.
While his wife managed to swim back to the beach, Mr du Bois was dragged away in the strong waves. Their toddler son was rescued by lifeguards.
Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are at the start of their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms.
