PHUKET: A Chinese tourist died last night after being seriously injured when he crashed a jet-ski into a yacht off Phi Phi, in the province of Krabi - where the dangerous machines are banned.
According to reports, the boat that carried the Chinese man and others to Phi Phi for a day's outing also brought the jet-ski on a voyage from Phuket.
While details of the tragedy remain sketchy, authorities told Phuketwan today that the Chinese man, on his first jet-ski ride, rammed into an anchored yacht off Loh Dalum Bay, sustaining serious head and neck injuries.
''He was brought to Phi Phi Hospital by the boat's captain, crew and Phi Phi police,'' a medical source said today. ''Then he was transferred later to Bangkok Hospital Phuket.''
Phuketwan has since learned that the man, Wu Xixiong, 46, died at the Phuket City hospital about 11pm.
Earlier that afternoon on Phi Phi, the boat that brought the jet-ski on the day's outing sailed off, leaving the jet-ski impounded by police.
Authorities in Krabi and Phuket are likely to closely examine the fatal case amid calls for jet-skis to be banned on the holiday island. The machines are already banned in Krabi and another neighboring Andaman coast province, Phang Nga.
Critics say the Phuket Marine Office 5 has little control over the activities of the jet-skis and seldom enforces regulations designed to control them and restrict their use to a handful of Phuket beaches.
Scams and rip-offs also continue unabated, despite marine authorities being anxious to convey the impression that there are no problems associated with the dangerous machines.
Yesterday's tragedy was reminiscent of a crash off Patong in December 2010 when Zhao Qiang and his wife Fang Chu, both aged 28, were killed when their jet-ski smashed into an anchored catamaran. Other deaths and serious injuries have followed.
Phuket Marine Office 5 chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut said today he knew nothing about yesterday's tragedy.
The Director of Phi Phi National Park, Chaitat Boonpoopantanti, told Phuketwan that the errant jet-ski owner off Phi Phi would have been subjected to a 500 baht fine if he had been caught.
However, Krabi Marine Office senior officer Surasak Mongkolchaisiri said his department could apply a fine of us to 10,000 baht for jet-ski use in Krabi waters.
it is believed that the captain of the boat that carried the jet-ski to the Phi Phi beach, where it crashed into a yacht named Doa Talay 2, is an expat resident of Phuket.
According to reports, the boat that carried the Chinese man and others to Phi Phi for a day's outing also brought the jet-ski on a voyage from Phuket.
While details of the tragedy remain sketchy, authorities told Phuketwan today that the Chinese man, on his first jet-ski ride, rammed into an anchored yacht off Loh Dalum Bay, sustaining serious head and neck injuries.
''He was brought to Phi Phi Hospital by the boat's captain, crew and Phi Phi police,'' a medical source said today. ''Then he was transferred later to Bangkok Hospital Phuket.''
Phuketwan has since learned that the man, Wu Xixiong, 46, died at the Phuket City hospital about 11pm.
Earlier that afternoon on Phi Phi, the boat that brought the jet-ski on the day's outing sailed off, leaving the jet-ski impounded by police.
Authorities in Krabi and Phuket are likely to closely examine the fatal case amid calls for jet-skis to be banned on the holiday island. The machines are already banned in Krabi and another neighboring Andaman coast province, Phang Nga.
Critics say the Phuket Marine Office 5 has little control over the activities of the jet-skis and seldom enforces regulations designed to control them and restrict their use to a handful of Phuket beaches.
Scams and rip-offs also continue unabated, despite marine authorities being anxious to convey the impression that there are no problems associated with the dangerous machines.
Yesterday's tragedy was reminiscent of a crash off Patong in December 2010 when Zhao Qiang and his wife Fang Chu, both aged 28, were killed when their jet-ski smashed into an anchored catamaran. Other deaths and serious injuries have followed.
Phuket Marine Office 5 chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut said today he knew nothing about yesterday's tragedy.
The Director of Phi Phi National Park, Chaitat Boonpoopantanti, told Phuketwan that the errant jet-ski owner off Phi Phi would have been subjected to a 500 baht fine if he had been caught.
However, Krabi Marine Office senior officer Surasak Mongkolchaisiri said his department could apply a fine of us to 10,000 baht for jet-ski use in Krabi waters.
it is believed that the captain of the boat that carried the jet-ski to the Phi Phi beach, where it crashed into a yacht named Doa Talay 2, is an expat resident of Phuket.
yes,by all means,focus on the no eating/smoking zones on the beaches instead of tourists dieing by jet skiis
Posted by Anonymous on February 11, 2015 10:31
Editor Comment:
bold words, anonymous.