PHUKET: Fresh tragedy struck the holiday islands of Thailand today when a tourist from Belgium plunged to his death from a boat.
Police investigators are now trying to determine whether the man fell or was pushed and why he was not wearing a life jacket, as tourists are required by law to do.
The vessel, carrying about 30 passengers, was travelling to Koh Phangan from the smaller island of Koh Tao, where the vicious murder of British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller has captured international attention since September 15.
Police from Phangan are investigating the circumstances of the manner in which the crew of the vessel, the Seatran Discovery, turned around and pulled the man from the sea. Life jackets are compulsory.
Colonel Prachoom Rungtong, Superintendent of Phangan Police Station, said that the man, aged 26, was spotted leaning over the rear of the vessel, photographing the propeller, before he fell.
''It's unclear whether his mental state has any bearing on what happened,'' the colonel said. ''We will be asking the captain why there was no safety vest and why he wasn't pulled alive from the sea.''
The investigation into the Belgian man's death comes amid growing concern about the safety and security of tourists in Thailand, following the murders on Koh Tao.
A suggestion that tourists wear wristbands, made recently by the Tourism and Sports minister, probably would not have helped. A life vest, however, might have saved his life.
Phuketwan has been given the man's name but will not identify him until we can be sure his family has been notified.
His body was taken to Koh Phangan Hospital.
Police investigators are now trying to determine whether the man fell or was pushed and why he was not wearing a life jacket, as tourists are required by law to do.
The vessel, carrying about 30 passengers, was travelling to Koh Phangan from the smaller island of Koh Tao, where the vicious murder of British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller has captured international attention since September 15.
Police from Phangan are investigating the circumstances of the manner in which the crew of the vessel, the Seatran Discovery, turned around and pulled the man from the sea. Life jackets are compulsory.
Colonel Prachoom Rungtong, Superintendent of Phangan Police Station, said that the man, aged 26, was spotted leaning over the rear of the vessel, photographing the propeller, before he fell.
''It's unclear whether his mental state has any bearing on what happened,'' the colonel said. ''We will be asking the captain why there was no safety vest and why he wasn't pulled alive from the sea.''
The investigation into the Belgian man's death comes amid growing concern about the safety and security of tourists in Thailand, following the murders on Koh Tao.
A suggestion that tourists wear wristbands, made recently by the Tourism and Sports minister, probably would not have helped. A life vest, however, might have saved his life.
Phuketwan has been given the man's name but will not identify him until we can be sure his family has been notified.
His body was taken to Koh Phangan Hospital.
'as tourists are required by law to do'. That might be the funniest thing I've ever read. Laws don't mean much 'round here. Just go down to not-for-private-profit Patong Beach and count the jet skis and parachutes if a reminder of that is needed. Or the people on motor bikes not wearing helmets. Or the number of illegal three-wheelers careening about the streets. An almost endless list of laws being ignored could be written.'Required'...puhlease.
Posted by Day on October 5, 2014 17:17
Editor Comment:
Perhaps you don't get it, Day. Tourist safety is top of the list right now. Unlike some other laws, those relating to safety and security should be enforced. There are important points to be made to tourists thinking about coming to Thailand and to authorities thinking about protecting them properly. Cynicism and sweeping generalisations just waste time.