Not sure of past statistics but from reading this latest article 30 so far this year is to me quite high http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-...ve-days-18852/
When there in June ventured down Kamala Beach one day, red flags out, but still some people in the surf with waves almost breaking on the beach.
Growing up in a coastal surfing town, those similar conditions here would spell out a big no no and not worth taking a risk.
So is it silly tourists getting there abilities over expectations wrong, the need for more lifesavers or such, or the need for Authorities to take task these people who disobey the flags, or is it a bit of everything