PHUKET, THAILAND – A Russian tourist was rescued after her leg became trapped in an open beach drain at Naithon Beach, prompting a complex evening operation.
Tourist’s leg trapped in open drain at Naithon Beach
Shortly before 5:45 p.m. on Monday, police in Sakhu received an emergency call reporting a woman screaming for help at Naithon Beach. The Russian tourist had slipped with her right leg into an uncovered drainage shaft and was stuck up to her thigh.
“She could no longer free herself. The more she pulled, the worse it jammed,”
said an eyewitness, adding that the woman panicked as she realized she was trapped.
Police chief rushes to the scene
Police reacted immediately after the alert, and Police Colonel Salan Santisatsanakul, head of the Sakhu Police Station, went in person to the accident site. The first response team arrived at 5:55 p.m. and found the woman’s leg wedged in the concrete opening like in a trap.
“We had to act immediately. Every minute counted,”
explained one officer, noting that the injured tourist was in severe pain and extremely frightened.
Residents, tourists and police join forces
What followed highlighted the solidarity among people on the island. Police officers, local residents and other tourists worked together to free the woman, using chisels and hammers to break up the concrete around the drain. Centimetre by centimetre, they widened the opening to relieve the pressure on her leg.
“Everyone helped. Whether Thai or foreigner – we were one team,”
said a rescue worker involved in the effort, which took time but ultimately succeeded.
Leg freed after nearly two hours
At around 7:20 p.m., almost two hours after the first call for help, rescuers finally managed to free the woman’s trapped leg. An ambulance took the injured tourist straight to hospital for examination. Initial checks showed she suffered bruises and abrasions, and a paramedic commented:
“She was very lucky in her misfortune. It could have been much worse.”
Recurring problem of dangerous drains
The incident raised renewed questions about safety along Phuket’s popular beaches. According to local accounts, similar accidents had occurred repeatedly, including a December case in Bangkok in which a construction worker died after falling into a drainage shaft while trying to retrieve his mobile phone. Authorities were urged to secure hazardous openings so that both tourists and residents could feel safe in public areas.
Authorities promise inspections and action
Colonel Salan expressed relief that the accident ended without life-threatening injuries.
“We are glad that we were able to help so quickly,”
he said, adding a clear announcement:
“We will inform the responsible authorities. Such accidents must not be repeated.”
Local officials stated that all drains and manholes along the beach would now be inspected, while the Russian tourist’s holiday ended, for the moment, with a hospital visit rather than a relaxing evening by the sea.