Three drown in a short time because tourists ignore red flag in Phuket

Well, that's what I always thought… until I had to be rescued myself!

It did not happen in Thailand, but in Rio de Janeiro at the Copa Cabana!

The red flag was also raised there. In the morning I saw in the distance how a man was fished out of the water. They picked him up in a helicopter and pushed him into a large fishing net.
How stupid, I thought, can't those people read? And: what would it be like to be fished out of the water like that?

At one point I had an “emergency” and wanted to pee in the wide sea…. adding a little salt to the ocean, so to speak. Since I didn't want people to see a yellow cloud around me, I crouched down. The waves made me go up and down and sometimes my feet didn't touch the bottom…until they didn't touch it at all.
Very quickly I realized that I was drifting towards the open sea. Swimming didn't help (I'm a good swimmer)…. don't shout either, I had drifted too far for that.

But luckily there were surfers. So instead of going to the beach I swam to a surfer and got to hold on to his board. Soon the Coast Guard arrived with the same helicopter. I had to swim out to sea. Two tough guys wanted to grab me, but I told them I could swim there myself.
A minute later I too was lifted out of the water like a big fish and dumped on the beach. Close to a hut where I was allowed to sign…. the umpteenth to be pulled out of the water that week.

I can still tell the story, but I now know devilishly well how strong a current in the sea can be and cannot be underestimated.

You are absolutely right Sjaak, before you know it you will be quickly sucked by the current towards the open sea. (Older) Dutch people know the dangers better, on the Dutch coast, for example, mainly Germans got into trouble because they do not understand the dangers of the sea. In Patong I once experienced a violent sea with high waves. Despite this, 3 Thai teenagers went into the sea and very quickly got into trouble. Two were able to reach the beach under their own power, but the third was unable to. Fortunately, there was a boat from the rescue brigade who were able to fish him out of the sea in time. I myself once ran into trouble on Kamala Beach completely unexpectedly. Drifted further and further and panicked in addition to being out of breath. Luckily there was a lifeguard who signaled what I basically knew, don't swim against the current but try to swim parallel to the beach to get out of the current. Totally exhausted I reached the beach and supported by the lifeguard I returned to my party, who had missed it all. The current can also be very dangerous on Nai Harn Beach. But like you, I've become even more careful and I don't mind underestimating the dangers of swimming in the sea.