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Speedboat victim Nikolai Nefedov and wife Irina in Vachira Phuket

Injured Phuket Tourist Home, Errant Speedboat Driver Roars On

Thursday, December 15, 2011
PHUKET: There are no plans to investigate a case in which a swimming tourist was struck by speedboat's propeller, says the Phuket policeman who took a statement about the incident.

The tourist whose leg was badly cut when the speedboat ploughed into a group of swimmers at Kata beach, Nikolai Nefedov, is now safely back in Russia.

His children, Ilya and Natalia, reported the arrival of Mr Nefedov and his wife Irina and sent a copy of the report that Mrs Nefedov lodged at Chalong Police Station.

Captain Au-tawat Sowannarat, of Chalong Police Station, told Phuketwan yesterday that Mrs Nefedov had lodged a report but that it was being treated as something she did for insurance purposes, not as a case for investigation.

The driver of speedboat 18 at Kata beach appears to have escaped paying compensation or even an official reprimand for steering his wayward vessel into the group of Phuket swimmers in shallow water on December 2.

Lack of action on Phuket contrasts with a case in New Zealand where a court ruled yesterday that a tour company must pay the equivalent of three million baht in compensation for an Australian tourist having her leg badly cut by a boat's propeller on a ''swim with the dolphins'' voyage in December.

Ilya and Natalia reported that the Russian travel insurance company eventually paid her mother's fare as well as the additional costs involved in their father's return to Ekaterinburg.

Mr Nefedov endured 11 hours in an ambulance before the flight and nine more hours in a vehicle after landing. His damaged right leg will require more treatment.

'It is still not known whether the insurance company will pay for the initial treatment at Phuket International Hospital,'' they wrote.

The Russian insurance company specified that their customers had to be treated at Vachira Phuket Hospital, rather than the nearest available hospital, which is the unconditional arrangement preferred by most insurers.

Once the clause was discovered in the insurance contract, Mr Nefedov had to be transferred to Vachira Phuket, leaving an outstanding unpaid bill for the emergency treatment he received at Phuket International.

''The conclusion is our insurance company makes everything possible to minimise its costs and risks (they even sent their own medical person from Moscow) not thinking about health and wealth of its clients and citizens,'' the couple's children wrote.

Comments

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All expats, tourists and consul in Phuket will have a bad feeling about the lack of ethics of civil servants by not protecting the tourism industry by prosecuting wrongdoers, especially local thugs and mafia cartels.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on December 15, 2011 17:40

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...........and here's me thinking Denial is a river in Africa. Good job there's no H&S investigations in Thailand. Reckless behavior gets swept under the carpet again and Driver 18 goes for a drink with his mates. Put the outstanding bill in the post to him - I bet it gets returned 'not known at this address'!!

Posted by Mister ree on December 15, 2011 17:49

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Since the outset of this case i have been disgusted by the way that Phuket authorities have totally ignored what is a blatant disregard for human life. Police, government and the owner of the speedboat, you disgust me. As whistle-blower states, a complete lack of ethics by civil servants. If a farang has an accident with a Thai, it is "investigated" by the police and the farang pays. If this guy had lost his life would there have been an investigation? Doubtful, too much money involved with the beach mafia.

Posted by Swerv on December 15, 2011 18:52

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That's definitively a JOKE, the handling of that case by Officials!!!

Posted by Alfred on December 16, 2011 03:50

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Elephant accidents, jet skis running over people and scamming those they don't, drugged drinks - world class destination? 555

Posted by larry on December 16, 2011 07:19

Editor Comment:

Let's keep things in proportion, larry. Phuket remains a relatively safe destination - although improvements are needed. Perhaps you've missed the reports about British tourists being raped in the Caribbean, and rabies in Bali?

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My experience is that Vachira hospital is for Thais and several thousand Myanmar that take advantage of the system! If a Farang (white skinned European, Ed) turns up requiring treatment, it's normal for them to say go to Bangkok or Phuket International hospital. I guess the insurance company have that well figured out.

Posted by agogohome on December 16, 2011 08:08

Editor Comment:

Not in my experience. Public hospitals seldom turn away anyone.

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Last I checked, this was "PhuketWan" not CaribbeanWan or BaliWan.

Posted by kobee77 on December 16, 2011 08:19

Editor Comment:

Sure, but only by comparing one island to others can you form an accurate picture of the scale of its positives and negatives. No point in going through life with your eyes half-open.


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