(Associated with Thai Life Saving Society)

Phuket Lifeguard Club was formed in 2003 by a group of trained lifeguards, former lifeguards and concerned citizens with the aim to develop lifesaving in Phuket and improving water safety at pools and beaches and enhancing Lifesaving as a sport.

Kids water safety activities were started in 2005, as well as Surf Lifesaving Carnivals in 2008, 2009, 2010. Phuket Lifeguard Club worked closely with Surf Lifesaving Australia to develop programs and bring professional trainers to Phuket to train lifeguards on an annual basis. From 2011, the Club started to train lifeguards from other provinces and to work more closely with Thai Lifesaving Society based in Bangkok.

In 2012, two of our members were selected to go to the UK and train with the RNLI in “Future Leaders in Lifesaving”. That same year SLSA assisted Phuket Lifeguard Club with a submission for funds from the Australian Thai Institute and The Australian Sports Commission to build a mobile Lifesaving Education Centre. A trainer from Australia came to Phuket to train and develop the team to run education programs in schools about water safety. In 2012, Phuket Lifeguard Club and Thai Lifesaving Society joined together to send a group to Rescue 2012 in Australia.

In 2013 Phuket Lifeguard Club started to work closely with the Royal Thai Navy to run education session for potential adult lifeguards in an annual training program. This continues today. In 2014 Phuket Lifeguard Club assisted with Water safety activities for the Asian Beach Games water events in Phuket later that year the Club realised that an overhaul of the constitution and name was required to include the expanded activities conducted around Thailand; in other provinces in Thailand, including Bangkok.

Early in 2015 an election was held, a new Constitution was drafted and a new logo designed. Committee members decided to re-name the organisation “Phuket-Thai Life Saving Association” and to seek membership to the International Lifesaving Federation. Membership today consists of more than 150 people, many of whom are professional lifeguards at public beaches or at private organisations. In addition to this membership includes Thai and non-Thais who are interested in water safety and drowning prevention.