PHUKET, THAILAND — Rescue teams in Thalang District recovered the body of Russian national Dmitri Zakutskii, aged 31, on Tuesday evening after a nearly two-day search off Phuket’s Nai Thon Beach during hazardous monsoon surf.
Morning swim ends in tragedy
At 09:00 a.m. Monday, Dmitri Zakutskii entered the water with his companion Elizaveta, both Russian tourists staying near Nai Thon Beach. According to Thalang Police records, a sudden wave separated the pair within seconds. “HE WAS ONLY A FEW METRES AWAY, THEN THE WAVE CAME AND HE WAS GONE,” Elizaveta told investigators later that day.
Eyewitnesses contacted local lifeguards, while police officers from Sakhu Police Station reached the beach within ten minutes. Despite rapid deployment of two jet-skis and one rescue boat, officials reported that strong currents pulled Zakutskii beyond the visible zone just minutes after he disappeared.
Extensive search under harsh conditions
By 11:00 a.m. Monday, Pol Lt Col Akkaraphon Siwilai, deputy commander of Sakhu Police, coordinated a search involving divers, marine patrols, and volunteers from the local community. More than 20 personnel participated in the effort. High wind speeds exceeding 40 kilometres per hour forced the team to suspend operations at sunset. “WE HAD TO STOP AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE WAVES WERE TOO DANGEROUS,” said Lt Col Siwilai on Tuesday. “BUT WE STARTED AGAIN AT FIRST LIGHT.”
Recovery of the body
At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, a rescue team discovered Zakutskii’s remains approximately 300 metres from his last known location. The body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for formal identification and autopsy. Thalang District Chief Siwat Rawangkul extended official condolences to the tourist’s relatives, saying, “WE SHARE THE FAMILY’S PAIN AND WILL COOPERATE WITH THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY TO HANDLE REPATRIATION.”
Authorities renew warnings to visitors
Following the incident, Phuket’s Disaster Prevention Office renewed alerts for all beaches along the island’s western coast, including Kata Noi and Karon, where strong rip currents regularly occur between May and October. Red flags currently prohibit swimming; however, officers reported that several foreign visitors continue to ignore the restriction.
A spokesperson for Phuket Lifeguard Service urged travelers to follow safety directives strictly. “EVEN STRONG SWIMMERS CANNOT OUTPOWER THESE CURRENTS,” he emphasized. Officials recorded four drowning cases on Phuket beaches in the past six weeks, all linked to monsoon tides.
Planned safety measures
The Thalang district office announced plans to allocate additional ten lifeguards across Nai Thon and nearby beaches by next month, alongside multilingual warning signage. Coordinators said they will distribute printed advisories in hotels and tourist centers to prevent similar drownings.
Local police confirmed that no foul play is suspected. Dmitri Zakutskii’s death has been classified as an accidental drowning resulting from extreme sea conditions during the 2024 monsoon season.