Chinese teenager drowns at beach on Phuket

The body of a missing 18-year-old Chinese tourist was washed up on Kamala beach on Wednesday morning. He had gone swimming in the rough sea with two friends on Tuesday evening. They were caught by a large wave. Lifeguards saved his two friends.(Photo by Achadtaya Chuenniran)

PHUKET - The dead body of a Chinese teenager missing after going swimming in heavy seas at Kamala beach on Tuesday evening was found washed up on the beach on Wednesday morning.

The 18-year-old tourist (name withheld pending notification of relatives) went swimming with two compatriots around 6pm on Tuesday, said Pol Lt Col Somnuek Damkaew, chief investigator at Kalama beach.

The three young men were staying at a hotel on Kamala beach. They were seen swimming about 50 metres from shore when a large wave washed over them. They shouted for help while trying to swim back to the shore.

Two beach guards, Sutthikiart Detsuwan and Thanin Naknuan, rushed to help them. Two of the three tourists were rescued.

A search for the third man on Tuesday night was unsuccessful. His body was found on the beach this morning.

Police said his two friends had been informed. The young man's body would be returned to China for funeral rites.