TRAT: A woman visiting from Spain plus her male companion from France went missing in this eastern province after the two went swimming within stormy seas away from Koh Chang’s Lonesome Beach on Sunday morning.
Termsak Sertsri, chief of Moo one village in tambon Ko Chang Tai, Ko Chang district, said that at about 7am he was alerted by local inhabitants that two tourists had entered the sea off Lonely Seaside, locally known as Tha Nam beach, in Moo 4 community in a strong thunderstorm with high dunes.
Both tourists had however to be identified.
Mr Termsak said a red flag have been erected at the beach, caution tourists not to swimming in stormy oceans.
On learning of the occurrence, the Ko Chang safety centre mobilised a number of rescue volunteers and local administrative officials to form a search and rescue group.
Team members were subsequently deployed on jet skis to look for the two tourists in an area regarding 300 metres through the shore, the community chief said.
At about eight. 10am, the female The spanish language tourist, 21, has been found floating regarding 300 metres south of Lonely Beach. She was introduced ashore and provided with first-aid treatment, yet she was found to be without vital signs. The man French tourist, twenty two, was still lacking.
Because of the strong wind plus high waves, the search was called off at 11am. However , the rescue volunteers and officials continued to check out the waves along with binoculars from the seaside, Mr Termsak said.
The two tourists had remained at Nature Resort houses Hotel for three times. On Sunday morning, they told hotel staff that they would certainly go out to watch sunlight rise, the village chief said. But the two instead went to Lonely Beach, which is on the west side of the island.
Dusit Samutrakpong, chief of the Mu Ko Chang Nationwide Park, said the region is currently being lashed by rain and high waves. Visitors should be careful prior to entering the sea, especially where a warning red flag has been put up.