KO PHI PHI, THAILAND – A snorkeling excursion off the popular island group ended in tragedy when a 69-year-old Canadian tourist died after losing consciousness in the water.
The woman had traveled by speedboat from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands on the morning of the incident as part of a tour group, arriving at the destination at about 9:45 a.m. Around 1 p.m., while she was attempting to leave the water at the well-known Pha Daeng dive site, the situation turned critical. According to initial police information, she was struck by a sudden wave, began gagging and appeared immediately exhausted.
Roughly 15 minutes later, the Canadian lost consciousness in the water, prompting urgent rescue efforts. She was brought ashore and transferred in haste to Ko Phi Phi Hospital, but all attempts at resuscitation failed and she was pronounced dead shortly afterward. The incident cast a shadow over Ko Phi Phi, one of Thailand’s most visited snorkeling and diving destinations, which attracts thousands of tourists daily to its bays and marine life.
Police Lieutenant Apilak Suwanlikhit, an investigator with the Phi Phi police, was notified of the case at 2:42 p.m.
“The officers examined the scene and took statements from tour guides and witnesses.”
said Apilak Suwanlikhit, police lieutenant. The precise cause of death remained unclear and was to be determined following a medical examination of the body.
Authorities and safety guidance emphasized that even experienced swimmers could face danger in the sea, with exhaustion cited as a common factor in accidents. Tourists were advised to check current weather and wave conditions before entering the water and to remain within sight of lifeguards or boats at all times. The Thai coast guard warned against overestimating one’s abilities in the ocean, noting that the sea could be unpredictable and powerful.