A Chinese tourist cried with happiness after a Phuket lifeguard found and returned a large wallet containing an estimated THB100,000 in mixed currencies and his and his girlfriend’s passports that they left behind on Patong Beach on Sunday.
Lifeguard Thalerngsak Wanyanaporn, 36, found the wallet on the beach.
“While I was walking to a shop, I passed a Chinese couple on the beach. When I returned, they had gone, but a red wallet was left behind,” he explained.
Afraid of any accusations that might be made, before even picking up the wallet, Thalerngsak called over other lifeguards to witness that he had found it.
“The other lifeguards were witnesses when I opened the wallet. Inside were two passports and Chinese banknotes totalling in value about THB100,000. The passports were for Tian Yongbo, 31, and Ruan Yonggui, 26,” Thalerngsak said on Monday.
Thalerngsak waited a while in case the tourists returned, and sure enough within minutes Tian came sprinting down the beach toward him.
“He was in tears. I checked the passport photo to make sure it was his and gave the wallet back,” Thalerngsak added.
“Tian was very happy. He said that he was to return to China that day, and that he would be in trouble if he’d lost the wallet,” Thalerngsak noted.
Tian gave Thalerngsak 200 yuan, equivalent to just under THB1,000, as a reward.
“I have found many wallets left on the beach before, but the money had always already been taken. Only cards were left,” Thalerngsak said.
“I always try to find the owners, but I have never found them. This was the first time that I have found a large amount of money. I am very glad that I handed the wallet back to its owner,” he added.
Story: The Phuket News
