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Jet-Ski Named Evil Makes Tourist a Widow
By Prasit Tarnsirisin Tuesday, November 4, 2014
PHUKET: Yullia Ukrainet will fly home to Russia from her holiday on Phuket this week as a widow, just the kind of outcome the Thai government is trying to prevent.
And all because of a jet-ski named 'Evil' ( Wairai).
The 28-year-old Russian shed tears the entire way through a 90-minute session today with the owner of the jet-ski. Her husband Iliya Muryndin, 29, died yesterday after 'Evil' fell back and struck him in the head as he tried to take the jet-ski through the surf on Patong beach.
An insurance contract will pay out 150,000 baht for the death of the young man once Ms Yullia has supplied the insurers with a wedding certificate, a sad meeting at Kathu Police Station in Patong heard today.
''It was the second time the Russian hired the jet-ski from me,'' said 'Evil's' owner, Somkit Kearnun.
The man's young widow heads for Russia on Thursday. Her tears are likely to be still falling.
Earlier today in a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, the Director of Phuket Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, said that he had warned Phuket's jet-ski operators that ''any more trouble will bring a total ban.''
''I have told them that rip-offs must stop and that the safety of tourists is the most important thing.''
A ban on jet-skis on Phuket seems unlikely unless there are a succession of deaths. Opposition to the machines is intense, but ignored by local authorities.
Phuketwan forwarded photographs of jet-skis and a parasailer operating at Surin beach, where there's a ban on those activities. ''You won't see them at Surin any more,'' Khun Phuripat said today.
When asked who owned Phuket's 286 jet-skis, he said about 10 percent were controlled by large investors and the rest had individual owners.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
If concept of the ownership to be interpreted broadly as deriving benefits from the object and and exhibiting some definite control over it, like whether the object is commissioned or not for ordinary operations, then we can come to some interesting conclusions...
Posted by
Sue
on
November 4, 2014 21:07
So 10% of jet skis are owned by large investors. Just goes to show how much money is made here. I will head to surin at lunchtime tomorrow to see if at least he keeps his word on this one.
Posted by
R.G.
on
November 4, 2014 22:03
Really? One more incident? I'll throw in to create a one more incident pool. The Marine 5 office gave Phuket to the jet ski mob. I don't see them getting shut down any time soon...or in my lifetime.
Posted by
Pinot
on
November 4, 2014 22:33
3 incidents in as many days (2 at sea and one on land) but K Phuripat continues to move his line in the sand. Empty words from someone who should be stepping up and taking real action.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
November 4, 2014 22:46
This has to be the saddest ending to the story. This mans death must be so distressing for his widow and now this incident will hopefully be reported to many authorities in many worldwide nations. We all knew it would happen, expats and news reporters alike wanted for so long for the authorities to take our views on jet-ski's seriously. Is this not serious enough?
Posted by
Syd
on
November 5, 2014 00:30
STOP all the jet-skies NOW. And on all Thailand beaches. Maybe later jet-skies can be allowed in special areas, and with complete insurrance.
Posted by
Lars
on
November 5, 2014 00:53
it's all about the money it's all about the dum dum duh dee dum dum....
Posted by
ThailandFan
on
November 5, 2014 04:45
Director of Phuket Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut: ''any more trouble will bring a total ban.''
Define 'trouble' Khun Theerakulpisut.
Listen to public opinion. These people are T-R-O-U-B-L-E in capitals & always have been. How many deaths, injuries, scams & assaults does it take to get that fact through to you?
Posted by
Logic
on
November 5, 2014 07:38
270 Jetskis at around 500k THB a piece is approx 135 million THB or 4 million USD total investment value.
If each is rented for an 'average' 3 times a day every day of the year at 1,000 THB a time, each jetski would have gross revenue of 1.1 million THB (200% approx annualized return).
That's about 8 million USD a year total estimated profit for all jetskis on Phuket. I havn't included running costs here, or the cost of 'payments' to keep things operating smoothly. I know I have made assumptions here but if anything i think the profit is an overestimate. The net total just doesn't seem close to being worth all the hassle and potential loss of tourism revenue caused. No wonder Phang Nga and Krabi dont bother with them.
Posted by
Chris
on
November 5, 2014 07:47
@logic
"Listen to public opinion"
Where can I read about public opinion?
All I can read are some complaining farangs in some English outlets.
As everybody know authorities give little about complains of farangs.
The only thing it could help is the power of the thai people.
I really miss it in so many cases.
Posted by
Georg The Viking
on
November 5, 2014 08:30
Phuripat Theerakulpisut, said that he had warned Phuket's jet-ski operators that ''any more trouble will bring a total ban.'' - it was my understanding that this warning was given before this happened.
Posted by
another steve
on
November 5, 2014 11:30
Editor Comment:
Last chances are likely to come frequently.
A very sad story but if it was avoidable is not easy to say on the information provided. Warning people on rough sea days and getting them to sign they have been informed of the sea conditions would help reduce injuries.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
November 5, 2014 11:46
Editor Comment:
It's plain that the death was avoidable. It's plain that the likelihood that the man was given full instructions in his native Russian is minimal. It's plain his holiday would have been more complete if Phuket was jet-ski free, like Krabi and Phang Nga.
PHUKET: Yullia Ukrainet will fly home to Russia from her holiday on Phuket this week as a widow, just the kind of outcome the Thai Government is trying to prevent.
well if the Thai government is serious about preventing this shameful blight to tourism jetski deaths and scams ban them from the sands forever
Posted by
slickmelb
on
November 5, 2014 12:17
Just wondering how many more unnecessary deaths will there be before the authorities do the right thing and ban all Jet-Skis? Or is it that most victims are foreigners perhaps giving less value to the situation ? Perhaps the embassies could do more in warning tourists of the potential and obvious dangers ? Either way this madness must stop.
Posted by
reader
on
November 5, 2014 12:54
This is not a matter of IF the next incident, but WHEN the Next incident occurs. BAN these dangerous & polluting machines (Jet-Ski's & Para-Sailing. Show This way; Phukets works on Tourist Friendly & Safety First & Eco Friendly.
Leave on Every Beach one or Two JetSki's for Rescue Duty Service Only. (NO RENTAL). Khun Phuripat, please become a Life-saver; BAN the Jet-Ski's.
Posted by
phuketgreed
on
November 5, 2014 13:21
In fact there it seems Now there is only one person guilty/responsible for all the incidents, accidents, injuries & deaths. It now seems to be him or her who has the Power to give the permission Phuket Island wide for all Jet Ski's to be rented out. HE/SHE who allows this, also Unskilled, controls people to RACE around. Racing with potential deadly projectiles. Endangering the user himself but also innocent bystanders, swimmers,?? playing kids and relaxing families.
All HAPPY till the Next incident occurs with a JET-ski,s / Speed-boat Racing around. This although environmental-wise not wanted and Safety-wise dangerous and even life-threatening. HE/SHE who allows this is also the One (and only?) Who can prevent these incidents (scammers) & accidents. If someone has the power to stop this madness of incidents, accidents and Deaths He/She should be hold personal accountable, reliable, responsible for the Death by neglect as soon as the next incident occurs. This is not a matter of IF the next incident, but WHEN the Next incident happens. BAN these dangerous & polluting machines (Jet-Ski's, Para-Sailing & Speedboats.
Show This way; Phukets takes Tourist Friendly & Safety First seriously & we work on Eco Friendly.
Leave on Every Beach one or Two JetSki's for Rescue (swimmers in problem) Service Only. (NO RENTAL). Let Him / Her who controld the Jet-Ski's become a Life-saver; BAN the Jet-Ski's.
Posted by
phuketgreed
on
November 5, 2014 14:28
Advisor to a one top member of the Administration Khun Jol L. in an interview just said, that "jet-ski mafia was cleaned out of Phuket".
After the interviewer pointed to the fact that it is still in place, Khun Jol, responded that it is obviously again already is back.
Still the interviewer insisted it was never been off for any period of time, then Khun Jol responded that a corruption is very complicated issue.
Just to illustrate understanding of people in Bangkok and what information, and yes *advise* the Administration can receive at times.
Posted by
Sue
on
November 5, 2014 23:21
1 Death using a jetski to how many drowning deaths 1 - 50 1 - 100?
Yet Thailand still can't provide life saving information to ferangs before they lose there life swimming.
Pollution you say? how about the countless hotels pouring raw sewerage / cooking oils and anything else that they can think of straight into where you swim, and your worried about a few jetskis and boats parading across the beach?
They haven't lifted a finger to stop the pollution, if you think a few jetskis + boats will upset the Thai govt then your kidding yourself.
The fact that so many tourist use the jetskis means the word isn't getting across about scams ect to incoming tourists.
While there is people with cash wanting to use them they will remain.
Seems to me it's the same people having a rant and a rave in every negative story that is put on pw, if you guys really feel so helpless because of lack of change, you could always make the change yourself and take your economy elsewhere, after all money is the key to Thailand, if you choose to stay well and good, but remember if Thailand ever does become a A1 tourist destination based of family values and quality tourist, no doubt most of you wouldn't be able afford to live there anyway.
Posted by
ohno
on
November 6, 2014 04:53
@Sue:
Google Chrome, MS Office, Open Office and most office suite software come with grammar and spellcheckers. You could certainly use the spellchecker, but as humans cannot understand your written text I doubt whether a grammar checker could make head or tail of it, and as it is so undecipherable it could cause your computer to crash, but you could try. If that fails maybe it's best if you cease trying to write altogether.
Posted by
Pete
on
November 6, 2014 08:28
@Pete
iOS comes with spellchecker too, but it often mutilate "decision"=>"security", "some"=>"sons" etc., incl. removing words; iOS 8 is a bit better than iOS 7, but still. There is no such problem (it just tried to adjust to "proem"-? , the keyboard, and accordingly spellchecking is English UK) with office SW. And for casual texts I don't do manual spellchecking, that I certainly do for official ones.
Take Appple Inc. spellchecking easies, it doesn't seem they're going to improve anytime soon.
Posted by
Sue
on
November 6, 2014 11:56
He > she, man > woman, meter > big feet, casual sex > casual texts, pedestrians > annoying plumbers, Unknown English > EU
Posted by
Manowar
on
November 6, 2014 12:22
Money is not the main consideration here but 150,000Baht would probably not even cover the cost to store and arrange and fly his body back to Russia. Insurance needs to cater for foreign prices as it is foreigners that rent the jetskis and therefore cover any loss, for example if a man or a lady is killed and he/she is the main earner in the family and could work another 30 years - you get my point, insurance needs to be USD1,000,000 plus. 150,000Baht for a young man's life, not enough. Will the Russian Embassy look into changing this to a higher amount for future deaths which there will be.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
November 6, 2014 13:37
I'm not in favour of jet skis but the responsibility or liability issues appear Ill directed.
The deceased hired the jet ski knowing he was not licensed and the hirer has a responsibility to ensure he hires equipment in accordance with local laws. That may be a licence or no licence and depends on the authority who has responsibility for the area where the jet skis are used.
The deceased knowing engaged in an activity where high risks of injury are likely.
He entered into a contract with the hirer and both should have been aware of the risks.
Riding a jet ski may be considered as being at the
Lower end of a high risk activity which is generally excluded from any claim for damage unless the damaged resulted from failure of the equipment he hired.
So who is responsible and against whom should a claim be made.
The jet ski hirer has fulfilled his responsibility by paying out the maximum compensation in the hire contract. As death occurred, this is probably the cheapest option for him rather than have ongoing litigation.
Should the hirer be compensated for engaging in a high risk activity and though his own inexperience he has suffered the ultimate injury? No.
The authorities who allow the business to operate within an area under their control must determine what conditions the hirer of equipment must comply with. An agreement exists and failure to enforce or comply means both may be liable depending on whether non compliance or failure to enforce occurred.
The primary claim should be against those responsible for control of the area where the injury occurred. The jet ski hirers may be named as joint defendants in any claim as the agreement to operate the business between the two parties is unknown.
If proven to be an illegal activity, both will be deemed responsible for conducting an illegal business and the other for knowingly allowing this to continue.
Posted by
Manowar
on
November 6, 2014 17:13
Manowar has entered by mistake a Fantasy Land, where rule of law in general exists.
Hiring a dangerous craft say in NZ is one thing, but in a place where a rule of law, incl. the law itself, is more absent than present, one should actual custom law of the place and sound sense.
I never hired either jet ski or parasail or banana boat in Thailand, and 'm going to continue like that . However did a lot in other countries, and would be ready to do that in the said NZ.
Consumer Protection Act puts a general burden on service provider that a service is "safe", it is a general clause as there is no specific regulation except that there is a need for a license for a pilot.
Normally general clauses are filled in with a substance by court rulings, but there was even no single case about jet-ski rip-off, that is far more common.
And typical hirer neither a person who can afford litigation in Thailand, it is quite costly nor of mindset to go through judicial processof civil case.
My opinion that jet ski operator allowed gross negligence at least by not verifying whether a consumer is in possession of license, and because of lack of briefing in a language a consumer understand about associated hazards.
Consumer in general can't be held responsible for not correct evaluation of such situation, as "a weaker contractual party".
Posted by
Sue
on
November 6, 2014 18:59
interesting comments from police are "if you were not here it wouldn't have happened" if the jet skis were not there etc etc etc
Posted by
Anonymous
on
November 10, 2014 14:41
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If concept of the ownership to be interpreted broadly as deriving benefits from the object and and exhibiting some definite control over it, like whether the object is commissioned or not for ordinary operations, then we can come to some interesting conclusions...
Posted by Sue on November 4, 2014 21:07