Sad story. I hope the guy recovers without a limp.

Posted by Anonymous on December 5, 2011 17:44

Curious that the boat driver hasn't turned up yet to claim for the damage to his boat - maybe he's waiting for advice from the 'entrepreneurs' who operate the jet skis.

Posted by Mister Ree on December 5, 2011 18:57

And it was not a surprise to me to read that the 'company' involved did not bother with the aftermath of the accident. It looks and feels that the beach operators have only the 'dollar' in their mind, not the well being of anything else, unfortunately...

Posted by Lucien on December 5, 2011 19:04

Speaks volumes. I don't really need say more, it's all been told before. Get well soon Nikolai and have a safe journey home. No doubt you won't be back.

Posted by agogohome on December 5, 2011 19:09

The place has turned into a 3rd world sink hole who's golden goose is about to fly away never to return,why is no one from the relevant government department on the island brought the idiot in charge of the speedboat to book and made him or his company compensate fully the innocent tourist? It's bad here. When even the Russian tourists are starting to complain, you know the place is on the slide.

Posted by Scunner on December 5, 2011 19:56

Scunner, you've just realized that Phuket is the third world? Thailand has always been, and will always be, the third world because it has long since been left behind by its neighbor Malaysia and now even by the likes of Indonesia and Vietnam. Only the Philippines is worse in this region. Cambodia doesn't count because it's still struggling to come to terms with the legacy of its civil war, but it is advancing. Thailand and (especially) the Philippines are the two big failures in South-East Asia. But it still won't stop me living here.

Posted by Andreas on December 5, 2011 22:16

Yeah, I'd say this one's going to remain as-is. they should go to the police and file charges. the guys who work the beach won't care anyways. they charge through people every single day, many times per day - in the middle and the southern end of the beach.

Posted by JingJing on December 6, 2011 05:51

I have long since abandoned Kata beach for the dangers which these speedboats and jetskis cause. I wouldn't leave my children on that beach!

Posted by Anonymous on December 6, 2011 06:40

Beach management - I was in Batu Ferringhi, Penang in Feb this year at a time when jetskis and paragliders etc were all banned, briefly after a series of accidents. Went back last week and what a difference - beach has been divided up, signs designating which registered and licenced operators may be in their specific areas only, buoys/ropes setting out jetski and boat lanes, and safe swimming areas. Not perfect, still too many water craft in my opinion, but a huge improvement in terms of safety. One benefit is by having set swimming area it is easier for parents to keep an eye on kids, and also for lifeguards to manage smaller sections of water rather than the whole beach.

Posted by Talisman on December 6, 2011 11:02

So is there no law against running over someone with a speed boat? Have any of the speed boat operators from accidents near the diving sites ever been arrested?

Please ask Chalong Police when they will arrest him.

Posted by Nancy Botwin on December 6, 2011 20:14

Accidents happen! Its no excuse, but boats in Phuket havent run over people in... when was the last time this happened???

Why does the media have to sensationalize this by saying the entire island's reputation is now "in ruin"? When obviously the whole reputation does not depend on this small incident.

Posted by j on December 7, 2011 10:15

A friennd of mine just one week ago was struck by a propeller of long tail boat in the same beach. Hs suffered a long cut on his right arm sewn at Patong Hospital with 16 stitches. And the drivers of the boat run away...

Posted by Dave on February 4, 2012 21:20