Wednesday, February 03, 2016
RUSSIANS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN SPEEDBOAT INCIDENT
Two Russians were seriously injured, one believed critially, when they were run over by a speedboat while scuba diving off Maya Beach in the Andaman Sea today.
The injured men, aged 30 and 48, were rushed by boat to Phi Phi Island hospital on the main island nearby for immediate surgery. The condition of one was thought to be critical.
The driver of the speedboat Adisorn Denmamood, 27, is being interviewed Thai police said.
However there have been contradictory accounts by the Police and Tourist Police.
“Pol Col Sompong Tiparpakul, chief of Muang Krabi police station, told INN radio news that a preliminary examination found the spot where the accident occurred did not have buoys showing it was a diving done” – Bangkok Post
While Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakphan, commander of the Tourist Police Division, insisted the boat driver went into an area ‘off limits to navigation’.
Maya Bay on Phi Phi Ley island was the setting for the Hollywood film ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo di Caprio, from the Alex Garland novel of the same name.
It is the second incident involving speedboats this month in the area.
On January 6 a 52-year-old French woman was killed instantly while swimming in a marked swimming area off Poda island, also in Krabi Province of southern Thailand.
The speedboat driver Yothin Subsak, 29, was arrested and charged with causing death by reckless action.
He confessed, said Police Commander Man Rotthong.
Thailand does not rigidly enforce health and safety laws and such incidents and others including local ferries are not uncommon.
