Tourist's Body Washes Ashore on Phuket Beach

The body of a Moroccan tourist, who went missing while swimming with a friend off Phuket's Karon beach, has been found washed ashore on Kata Noi beach, local media Amarin TV reported. The incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. on Monday, when the two Moroccan men encountered difficulties while swimming. Lifeguards and officials successfully rescued one of them, identified as 22-year-old Mr. Mohamed Bourhim. However, his friend, 25-year-old Mr. Ezzakani Othmane, was swept out to sea by the current and went missing, prompting a continuous search operation by authorities. At 6 a.m. today, September 16, police received a report that a foreign man's body had been found on Kata Noi beach. An inspector from the Karon police station proceeded to the scene. The body was found lying on the sand, wearing black shorts. Preliminary assessments suggested it was likely the missing tourist. Subsequently, the missing man's friend was contacted to identify the body, confirming it was Mr. Ezzakani Othmane. Authorities will now proceed with an autopsy and coordinate with the Moroccan embassy to contact the deceased's relatives and arrange for the repatriation of the body for a funeral.