Australian tourist, 22, drowns while reportedly swimming intoxicated off Thailand's island of Koh Racha Yai
A 22-year-old Melbourne man has drowned while reportedly swimming intoxicated in Thailand earlier this week.
The man was on the Marinda 2 tour boat off the island of Koh Racha Yai, a popular snorkelling location near Phuket, on Tuesday (local time).
He reportedly jumped off into the water, trying to paddle but was dragged down by strong currents, according to news.com.au.
Police say there were six others on board the boat at the time.
Just before 2.30pm, the Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre received an alert of the drowning and assistance was sent to the scene in response, local media reports.
A rescue vessel and medical team, consisting of doctors and nurses trained in emergency maritime response, arrived on the scene to find the victim unconscious and responsive.
They immediately administered CPR and were eventually able to detect a pulse.
After being rushed back to shore, he was transferred to an ambulance and taken to Chalong Hospital in Phuket.
The trip may have taken up to an hour and 15 minutes.
The man was pronounced dead at 3.53pm.
Underwater currents around Racha Yai can be dangerous for inexperienced swimmers, according to Phuket News.
Police lieutenant colonel Kanen Somrak told local media the man was an Australian national, and there had been seven foreigners including the victim.
'The victim had consumed a large amount of alcohol before entering the water. He was reportedly intoxicated and repeatedly jumped in and out of the sea before eventually drowning,' he said.
'No illegal substances were found at the scene. Only empty alcohol beverage bottles were discovered.'
Local authorities contacted the Australian embassy to inform the man's family of his death.
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