He was looking forward to his WEDDING - Singapore's Online Community

**KaLeen** · 17-07-2007, 12:55 PM

S'pore man drowns at Phuket beach

ONE moment, they were standing and relaxing in waist-deep water in the sea at Phuket, waiting for their turn to play beach soccer.

Huge waves hit them & drag them out to sea
The next, the three Singaporean men found themselves knocked over by huge waves and dragged under into the choppy sea.

Two of them were rescued, but the third drowned, bringing a tragic end to what was, up to then, a fun trip.

The accident took place at the popular Patong Beach around 3pm on Saturday.

The victim, Mr Bernard Chua Hock Beng, 34, was an insurance agent with Prudential Assurance.

He was in Phuket from Friday for a sales convention involving 135 agents from Singapore.

It was supposed to end yesterday.

Mr Chua's wife was in shock and had flown to Phuket, his boss, Mr Mohamad Kamal Abdullah, 39, told The New Paper.

The couple registered their marriage two years ago and Mr Chua was looking forward to the wedding, Mr Mohamad Kamal said in a phone interview.

DANGER

He said Mr Chua was winding down with his colleagues at Patong Beach and joined a group of beach-goers for soccer. There were three teams, which took turns to play.

Mr Mohamad Kamal, who was watching the football, said he saw the victim and two other colleagues standing in the sea.

'There were many other people in the water too. Sea sports were also going on, which showed that the conditions were normal,' he said.

According to Mr Mohamad Kamal, the Thai media had reported wrongly that Mr Chua was swimming, despite a warning from beach officials.

Red warning flags had been placed on the western beaches, including Patong, since early this month, reported The Phuket Gazette newspaper.

This means swimming is banned due to the danger posed by the strong and high waves in the rough monsoon season, from this month to October.

Mr Mohamad Kamal said one of the survivors later recounted that the waves caught them by surprise.

'He said huge waves came in over their heads and dragged them out into the sea,' he said.

The incident caught the attention of beach-goers and members of the Phuket Provincial Administration beach guard, who launched rescue operations immediately.

Said Mr Mohamad Kamal: 'It was a freak accident that happened so fast that no one could respond in time.'

He described Mr Chua as a sporty and active person who swam regularly.

It was, however, his first visit to the Patong Beach during the trip.

Mr Chua and Mr Mohamad Kamal were supposed to return later, having extended their stay for two more days after the convention.

The two survivors were taken to Patong Hospital. One was unconscious at the time, but in stable condition, reported the Gazette.

Mr Mohamad Kamal said the two survivors have since been discharged but were still distraught over the tragedy.

He said: 'They were very close to each other, almost like brothers.'

Mr Chua's wife, who is 28, rushed to Phuket on Saturday night, together with his family members, said Mr Mohamad Kamal.

He said they had met several years ago, indirectly through him.

Mr Chua was working as an agent, while she was a secretary in Mohamad Kamal & Associates.

They registered their marriage around two years ago.

Said Mr Mohamad Kamal, who is the financial services director: 'He was very excited and looking forward to buying a house and holding a ceremonial wedding soon.'

He said the wife, who had left his company, was in shock over the death and was trying to get more information from him and other colleagues.

'For someone who was always selfless and thought about others' interests, can you imagine how much more he loved his wife?'

He described Mr Chua as a model employee, a caring colleague and a good friend.

Mr Chua was one of 135 top-performing agents who qualified to attend the convention after meeting sales targets.

WELL-LIKED

Mr Mohamad Kamal has been Mr Chua's boss for the past 11 years, from the day the latter entered the industry.

He said Mr Chua was well-liked by his clients, who have stayed loyal to him over the years.

Said Mr Mohamad Kamal: 'He served them well. Nothing was too much for him.

'He would help expedite claims for the clients because he knew they needed money urgently, for hospitalisation expenses.'

He also described him as a selfless man who would go the extra mile to help his friends.

It was clear that Mr Chua, a leader in the local Soka community, was applying his religious principles in his life, he added.

He said the Prudential team had rallied around his family and provided necessary help to them.

Mr Philip Seah, Prudential's chief executive officer and other bosses were to fly back on Saturday but stayed back to help.

A spokesman for Prudential Assurance said the company had made flight and accommodation arrangements for Mr Chua's wife and his family members.

SADDENED

His body was brought back, with assistance from the company and Thai police.

The spokesman said: 'We are extremely saddened by the accident and are cooperating with the Thai police on the investigations.

'Our priority is to ensure that every form of assistance is provided to Bernard's family and to support them through this very difficult time.'

taken : http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...36035,00.html?

**genzo2106** · 17-07-2007, 02:42 PM

the wife-to-be must be very sad to have lost her future husband in such a tragic incident..Hope that she will recover from her sorrow soonest possible..