Swiss tourist missing on Koh Tao

SURAT THANI - A Swiss tourist is missing on Koh Tao, and has not been seen since he went swimming on Saturday, Koh Tao mayor Chaiyan Turasakul said on Monday night.

Mr Chaiyan said Suter Hanspeter, 44, went swimming alone off Sairee Beach on Saturday afternoon. He rented snorkelling gear from a shop on the beach and left his passport and personal items there, but did not take a life jacket with him. He did not return to the shop.

Police, rescuers and local people were continuing to search for the missing man, both on the island and off the beach.

"A storm entered the southern region that day but the weather on Koh Tao was normal at the time.

"It's unlikely that Mr Suter drowned while snorkelling. After 48 hours, his body should have washed up on the shore if he had died. I think he's still alive," the Koh Tao mayor said.

Sairee Beach is the same area where two British tourists, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, were murdered in September.

Suter Hanspeter, 44, has been missing since Saturday evening.