A British father has drowned while on holiday in Thailand after being swept out to sea by powerful waves. Jason Mark Lambert, 37, from Ipswich, was paddling at Freedom Beach in Phuket on Saturday morning when he was caught in a rip current. Witnesses reported that Lambert was enjoying the water with his partner when a strong wave struck, pulling him beneath the surface. Eyewitness Chariya Thaweerat Howells, 31, described the scene, stating, "The sea looked rough and we had only been there a few minutes when we heard cries for help." Despite the efforts of other holidaymakers who rushed to assist, Lambert could not be revived after being pulled from the water. Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanan Mekchai of Patong Police Station confirmed that the incident occurred around 11.30am, with emergency services notified an hour later. Mekchai stated, "He went to the beach with his wife at around 10am. While swimming, he was caught in strong waves and disappeared beneath the surface. Tourists on the beach rushed to help and managed to pull him from the water. They attempted CPR for first aid while waiting for the emergency service, but he could not be revived." Two other swimmers were also caught in the waves but were rescued alive. Howells recounted how a local man launched a kayak to assist the struggling tourists. However, she noted that Lambert had gone under unnoticed as attention was focused on the other two. When Lambert was finally brought ashore, witnesses reported that he appeared unresponsive and had been underwater for some time. The ambulance reportedly took around 25 minutes to arrive, during which time beachgoers attempted to perform CPR. Howells expressed concern over the lack of safety measures at the beach, stating, "We didn't see any lifeguards or red flags on the beach. There was nothing to warn tourists how dangerous the waves were." The police conducted an initial examination with a doctor from Patong Hospital, concluding that Lambert's death was an accidental drowning. The British Embassy in Bangkok has been informed, and his family has been notified. Lambert had arrived in Thailand with his wife on November 19 for a family holiday and had previously enjoyed swimming in the sea without incident. His body has been released to his family for funeral arrangements.