UPDATE Phuket Jet-Ski Crashes into German Swimmer's Head: French Rider Faces Penalties
By Chutima Sidasathian Saturday, February 28, 2015
The 55-year-old German, Erick Heim, remained in an intensive care unit with head injuries on Sunday. A senior police officer from Patong was keen to interview him but Mr Heim was too unwell to talk.
PHUKET: A German man has been admitted to a Phuket hospital after being struck in the head by a jet-ski ridden by a French tourist today.
The German man was swimming off Paradise beach, south of Patong, when he was struck by a jet-ski among seven ridden from Patong by the French tourists.
The injured swimmer swam back to Paradise beach where he was bandaged by Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation paramedics and taken to a hospital in Phuket City.
The crash has been reported to Kathu Police Station, which oversees the west coast holiday hub of Patong. Police will now have to decide whether to charge the French jet-ski rider with an offense.
Colonel Anukul Nuket of Kathu Police Station said tonight: ''I will interview the German man first and proceed from there.'' The injured man's wife was with him, the colonel said.
He named the jet-ski riding Frenchman as Chadd Attardi, 20, who arrived on Phuket on February 19 and leaves in seven days.
Jet-skis hired at any beach on Phuket are not supposed to be ridden to any other beach. It is one of many rules in connection with jet-skis that are seldom enforced.
There are no lines of buoys at Paradise beach to isolate swimmers from jet-skis.
The President of the Jet-Ski Club of Patong, Nucha Petchrimol, said tonight that the insurance for jet-skis should cover the first 40,000 baht of the German man's care. ''Anything more than that will have to be paid by the jet-ski rider,'' Khun Nucha said.
Jet-ski insurance is considered to be sub-standard and inadequate, especially for serious injuries or deaths.
The jet-ski and parasail hirers have been given control over what amounts to the majority of the beachfront at Patong even though the military cleared all illegal private commercial activities from the sands on Phuket last year.
Governor Nisit Jansomwong continues to ignore newspaper polls that show the vast majority of residents and tourists want the dangerous, noisy machines banned.
The governor, who visits Europe for the ITB Berlin travel fair next week, is likely to face questions about the jet-skis and the chaotic ''10 percent rule'' he is currently trying to impose on Phuket's beaches.
The governor's rules ban all beach chairs. Large numbers of tourists from Europe, many of them frequent visitors to Phuket, say they won't be back again. They plan to find an alternative destination where they are allowed to bring their own chairs and umbrellas.
Hooligan French riders on jet-skis made news earlier in the week by swamping a dinghy being ridden to shore at Laem Singh by a New Zealand yachtsman and his wife.
The yachtsman wanted officers to intervene to demand that the French hooligans replace a water-damaged camera but he was unable to trigger a response from police.
Jet-skis are banned in Phuket's neighboring provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga.
A plan to phase them out on the Thai holiday island lapsed because of lack of commitment by the governor's predecessors.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
I bet it will be called accident, as Marine Office 5 advocate "equal access to the sea" to all parties.
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1. It is one of many rules in connection with jet-skis that are seldom enforced.
===
2. There are no lines of buoys at Paradise beach to isolate swimmers from jet-skis.
===
There is no such rule. In order that this be a rule MO5 Phuket should issue written administrative order.
But MO% Phuket has not issued any written administrative orders that would regulate jetski operation, and laws and minisitrial regulation doesn't address jetski traffic in such location at all.
Overall, my opnion is that MO5 id not very sincere in supervising Phuket area, as administrative orders about jetski traffic would be of obvious benefit for all stakeholeders, bar operators and their regulators.
Posted by
Sue
on
February 28, 2015 20:40
The way it's going he'll be fined for head butting and damaging the jet ski before anything else is done.
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
February 28, 2015 20:40
But for the grace of god the german was not killed. Ban these dangerous machines or be complicit in any future deaths or injuries that occur.
Posted by
R.G.
on
February 28, 2015 20:44
That guy is lucky to be alive. Jetskis on Phuket are a bit like heavy vehicles on Patong hill , its just catastrophe after catastrophe , and the damage and injuries and deaths just keeps piling up. It really is sad .
Posted by
carvets
on
February 28, 2015 20:44
Hi all, I'm from South Africa. It is illegal at most beaches here to operate a jet-ski to avoid such incidents. However we are allowed to use the full amount of beach space for umbrella's and chairs, protecting your skin from sun to avoid skin cancer. Safe swimming zones are clearly marked and monitor by professional life gaurds. We don't stuff people into any zones like sheep (open beach policy). I surely hope Phuket will relize the danger they put their tourist industry in.
Posted by
boutros
on
February 28, 2015 20:59
Such weak enforcement of the law by police and an even weaker govenor, phuket you are dead in tourism.
Posted by
Robin S
on
February 28, 2015 22:05
Very common to see these French apes screaming anywhere they wish on these stinking jetskis. Go to Laem Singh on any day and you'll see them, and they frequently bring the miserable machines into Surin beach and disturb everyone there. The jetskis are banned at both places, but nobody enforces it. It is just unbelievable that personal chairs are banned, but these dangerous and obnoxious machines continue to cause problems on a regular basis.
Posted by
Richard Vickers
on
February 28, 2015 22:51
@Robin S
weak enforcement of the law by police
===
Can you, please, name the statute and its provison which regulate specifically conduct by jetskis at such areas?
My guess no such statues exist here.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM at first palce.
Posted by
Sue
on
February 28, 2015 23:29
Great Boutros.......We get to your country next year..... We going to kamala in a week just to say good bye to all friends that we learned to know for 15 years but after that we are gone....!
Posted by
I am done
on
March 1, 2015 00:41
It is time that this governor gets a promotion to somewhere else. He does clearly not understand what Phuket needs.
Posted by
Wes
on
March 1, 2015 05:54
The governor really needs to start enforcing the law to stop these dangerous alien swimmers posing a danger to these poor defenceless jet ski riders. Surely it far easier to just ban swimming and allow the jet skis to operate in their natural environment.
Posted by
Manowar
on
March 1, 2015 06:21
I see these French hooligan jet ski riders quite often at Surin Beach, coming over from Bang Tao or Kamala, and to make dangerous moves close to swimmers at both ends of the beach. When will they be arrested?
Posted by
Kat
on
March 1, 2015 06:57
Time for another 'final warning' then.. That should solve it.
Posted by
LivinLOS
on
March 1, 2015 07:55
You need a license to ride a jet-ski and most if not all travel insurance company's will not cover you even if you have a license
Make the jet-ski operators put sign's up stating this and see how many still rent them
Also fine the jet-ski operators for renting to unlicensed riders
It will not happen, to much money involved
Posted by
peter allen
on
March 1, 2015 08:27
Et voila!
Exactly the problem that the lifeguards at Laem Singh and Surin beach have previously contacted me about - jetskis being ridden from other beaches and then ridden in a dangerous manner by French tourists who refuse to adhere to the directions of the lifeguard.
As a TPV trying to help tourists, I and these lifeguards get so frustrated when those in authority who are notified about these incidents, are not prepared to get out of their offices and help.
I'm choosing my words carefully here - I am still furious about the lack of concern shown by those who should be acting upon the calls for assistance from lifeguards, yachties and TPVs.
Posted by
Simon Luttrell
on
March 1, 2015 09:05
The influential owners of the jetski's get richer and clearly do not care about the safety of the tourists
The Marine Department, the Governor of Phuket, the Mayor's of Phuket, the police of Phuket, the administrators in Bangkok and others do not care about the safety of the tourists
Posted by
Paul
on
March 1, 2015 10:01
Editor Comment:
A ban as in Phang Nga and Krabi keeps the tourists safe.
I really hate the jetski's, but let's please stick to the truth. Statements like this are simply not true: "most if not all travel insurance company's will not cover you even if you have a license".
Posted by
stevenl
on
March 1, 2015 10:28
A couple of these machines came roaring into Nai Harn Bay the other morning and were using the anchored yachts as an obstacle course. With the water so calm at this time of the year more than a few people enjoy swimming out into this area, and some of the yachties also like to take a dip off their boats.
Posted by
Treelover
on
March 1, 2015 10:54
@stevenl
Operating jetski is similar to the operating say speedboat.
Many, if not most, standard insurance policies, will consider it as small leisure boats, (or exclude with a help of even more cryptic script) and will require payment of extra premium to cover the risk - and that is reasonable and fair not to charge general population to what they use on rare occasion during their travels.
Posted by
Sue
on
March 1, 2015 12:49
When does the jet-ski ban come? How many people must die?
Posted by
Reddy
on
March 1, 2015 12:50
Let's all just face the facts... this isn't going to stop, no matter what happens, just chalk it up to another threat to your safety when living or vacationing in Phuket. I was just at Surin Beach, and the idiots from Laem Singh were zipping in and out of Surin, and I must say, I was concerned for my safety. These aren't small machines, but very large and very fast and powerful, and the idiots renting them have no concern about following any kind of rules... not that there are any anyway. Why do they feel the need to come into Surin and do circles and zigzags so close to the shore? I just got out of the water, and I sat under the trees trying to read, but all I could notice was the constant whining noise of the stinking jetskis...fouling the nice quiet beach environment for everyone. I just left, and I don't know where I can escape these miserable things.
Posted by
Ed Sanders
on
March 1, 2015 16:55
Another news outlet reports "Police are waiting for the German to make a full recovery to talk to him and to decide whether to charge French (Algerian extraction)driver. By that time he will be back over in France, laughable how the jet ski chaos is being treated! Mr. governor, this is where you should become active not with the beach chairs.
Posted by
Guenter Bellach
on
March 1, 2015 20:30
Editor Comment:
How would you know, Guenter? Are you acquainted with anyone involved, or are you just guessing? Unless our eyesight is failing us, the young man appeared to be at the ICU unit at the hospital today. There is no reason to suspect he won't honor his obligations. We'd prefer you kept your bigotry to yourself. If you wish to rely on other news outlets, best stick with them.
@Ed Sanders
The jetskis are easy to escape, just go to Krabi or pang nga where they are banned and do not operate
It's so beautiful there.
It seems to be what the authorities want - get rid of the pesky tourists !
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
March 1, 2015 21:09
Interesting timing for a German man to be seriously injured by one of these horrible jetskis just as the Governor is off to Berlin for a tourism conference. I trust the German attendees of the conference tell the Governor exactly what they think of his rules which allowed their fellow countryman to be seriously injured.
I would love to be a fly in the wall when that happens !
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
March 1, 2015 21:12
When will they ban these jetski?
The governor, if he governs like the word presume, would do well to consider these issues in places of trivialities such as beach chairs which does have never hurt or kill anyone. What will he do when no tourist will visit more Phuket?
Posted by
Manu
on
March 1, 2015 23:39
A Thai captains license is required by law to operate a Thai flagged vessel in Thai waters. Charging the Frenchman for violating this would would be a great way to get that message out to tourists.
Posted by
Joe
on
March 2, 2015 15:55
how he swam back is a miracle after that criminal action of stupidity in a shore area no doubt it will receive
the most negative media reports in Germany be more potential quality tourists avoiding this place
Posted by
slickmelb
on
March 2, 2015 16:31
I tried an ironic comment yesterday concerning the danger of jet-skis, but Ed apparently didn't like it.
They are very close to swimmers both on Paradise beach and Patong beach.
Try to imagine how big such a machine appear, when you swim and try to calculate, which way to escape, when it come straight towards you with full speed.
At Paradise Beach there are no separations at all and at Patong Beach only tiny separations until waist deep water, further out the jet-skis are racing parallel with the beach among swimmers.
The point is that if the governor favors swimmers and jet-skies in the same area, then a warning in every hotel room about avoiding collision is more important, than every else decree the governor might invent.
Posted by
Sherlock
on
March 2, 2015 16:36
Joe, this will never happen here as few weeks ago Phuket authorities explained, that their interpretation is that for such short rides no license is needed...
If they would enforce license rules, it will not just punish a single tourist, but eventually will kill the whole jetski business here.
As we witness it, no policy damaging commercial interests of jetski hire enterprise is permitted for consideration.
Posted by
Sue
on
March 2, 2015 16:37
Sherlock,
Your previous post was only viewable in the PW members only section where we've been debating the topic in more depth.
Most of us disagreed with your 2nd paragraph though.
For $100US per 6 months its well worth the cost especially the jet ski coupon, first aid kit and map of Phuket hospitals provided in the PW supporters bag.
Posted by
Manowar
on
March 2, 2015 17:39
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I bet it will be called accident, as Marine Office 5 advocate "equal access to the sea" to all parties.
===
1. It is one of many rules in connection with jet-skis that are seldom enforced.
===
2. There are no lines of buoys at Paradise beach to isolate swimmers from jet-skis.
===
There is no such rule. In order that this be a rule MO5 Phuket should issue written administrative order.
But MO% Phuket has not issued any written administrative orders that would regulate jetski operation, and laws and minisitrial regulation doesn't address jetski traffic in such location at all.
Overall, my opnion is that MO5 id not very sincere in supervising Phuket area, as administrative orders about jetski traffic would be of obvious benefit for all stakeholeders, bar operators and their regulators.
Posted by Sue on February 28, 2015 20:40