UPDATING All Day, Every Day
NO CHARGES are being laid by Marine Police or local police over the incident so civil action seems likely by the yacht's owner against the dive boat charterers and/or its owners.
Original Report
PHUKET: Two Danish tourists say that one of them was hurled into the sea while the other jumped onto a dive boat as it crashed into a yacht off Phuket last night.
The Danish tourist who jumped onto the dive boat found himself the centre of attention of picture-snapping tourist-divers on the live-aboard vessel.
The other young Dane, knocked into the water, managed to clamber safely onto the yacht's dinghy. The book he had been reading remained in his hand, he said.
The unusual incident was resolved without loss of life or injury when the dive boat returned the Danish tourist.
He jumped into the water near the yacht just before the dive boat crashed into the yacht a second time, according to those still on the yacht.
The captain of the yacht, Starship, American merchant mariner Gary Gilbert, a Phuket resident, is not pleased and aims to take the matter further.
Marine Police and local police, with media, greeted the 36-foot yacht when it returned to Boat Lagoon in Phuket City today to be hoisted ashore for repairs.
Police are also likely to greet the dive boat whenever it returns to shore. Liveaboard excursions usually last for three or four days.
Mr Gilbert told Phuketwan today at Boat Lagoon: ''I want the man who was driving that boat to be arrested and charged with assault.
''I had right of way. All he had to do was slow down or make a turn.''
He said that as Starship was a sailing vessel without an engine, the liveaboard had to give way to the yacht but did not.
''He hit me a second time because he wanted to get the crew member [from our yacht] back on board.'' Mr Gilbert said soon after inspecting the damage to his hoisted yacht.
The strange incident took place about 9.30pm off Maithon Island, on Phuket's east coast.
Mr Gilbert's wife, Khunpai and daughter, Araya Jasmine, aged seven, were also on board Starship, with the two Danes.
Per Bogh Ellekrog, 20, and Jens Ole Haut Vibild, 21, are taking a gap year - and they have an adventurous tale to tell to future classmates.
They were both on the Starship when the dive boat came straight at the yacht - and did not stop coming.
PER'S story: ''Gary, the captain of the yacht, started honking his horn but before we could do anything the boats collided. I was sitting there reading my book when I saw the big boat coming at us. I backed away and was leaning against the railing. From the force of the impact I was thrown into the water and I just looked up and was scared the big boat would run over me. I still had the book in my hands and I was swimming and really scared. I was in the water and the yacht was still moving so i swam as fast as I could to the dinghy. I managed to pull myself up and was at least in safety. While all this was happening my friend Ole was on the other boat and I had no idea how he got there. He just started calling my name and I said 'Ole, Ole, I'm fine.''
OLE's Story: ''I was sleeping in the forward cabin. My friend and I are not sailors at all, we were just on the yacht for a holiday, sharing expenses. Suddenly I heard a siren and saw the big boat coming. I was shocked so i got on the roof and jumped to the other boat because i thought the yacht would sink when the other boat hit. I jumped onto the other boat. My friend, he was thrown off the yacht. So i was just standing on the deck of the other boat. There were a lot of tourists taking a lot of photos. The dive boat people wanted me to swim back to the yacht but i was too shocked. I refused to jump into the water. Then they turned back and asked me again to jump but i said no and a Thai man pushed me into the water. I had to swim back to the yacht. I was totally shocked.''
Looks like the boat drivers drive the same way as the minivan/taxi drivers. It is more and more apparent every day, that Thailand is a dangerous place, simply because people just don't follow rules.
Posted by Ed Sanders on April 11, 2015 17:42