German tourist drowns off Kata

KATA: A German tourist, named by Phuket Town police as Mr E. Utzke, aged 68, drowned off Kata Beach on Wednesday. Mr Utzke was staying at the Kata Beach Hotel with his wife. Police believe he may have suffered cramps while in the water. Alerted by people on the beach, members of the Kupai Foundation searched for him using a fishing boat, but were unsuccessful. An hour after he disappeared from view, his body washed up on the beach. An autopsy confirmed that drowning was the cause of death. Mr Utzke is the ninth tourist to drown off Phuket’s beaches this year.