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UPDATE Bodies of Two Korean Tourists Found in Wreckage of Phuket Crash Speedboat
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
A TEAM of expat divers found a second body in the sunken speedboat at 5.01pm, soon after the first body had been lifted onto a Marine Police vessel. If the second body can be recovered before dark, both crash victims' bodies could be back on Phuket late today.
PHUKET: The body of one of two Koreans missing after a speedboat crash at the weekend has been recovered. An Sun Yong, 28, was discovered today in the sunken wreckage of the speedboat.
Go Min Woo, 31, is still missing. Representatives from the families of both tourists are now on Phuket.
A team of about 12 expat volunteer divers from Phi Phi found the body and recovered it from 40 metres down about 4.55pm.
The captain of the speedboat is likely to face a long jail term after hitting an anchor rope or net near a fishing boat and flipping his vessel, laden with tourists, into the sea.
The tourists, from about seven countries, were returning to Phuket from a day-trip outing to Phi Phi on Sunday when the captain stooped to pick up an annoying plastic bag and failed to spot the trawler looming ahead.
Marine Police, the Royal Thai Navy and other organisations have been searching for the two Koreans since the crash.
Volunteer divers found the body about 3.30pm, said Lieutenant Colonel Chatchai Sakdee, of the Marine Police. The divers then had to recover the body.
The searchers are still looking for the second tourist and will not bring the body back to Phuket until darkness falls.
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Comments
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Why do the divers need to be volunteer divers when tourism brings in 10% of GDP?
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
October 21, 2014 17:01
Editor Comment:
Generally, it's the kind of work undertaken by volunteers, FF. They are able to go that deep. There is no ''body recovery'' unit on standby.
How many people needlessly die in Thailand everyday, just because of total negligence? Accidents do indeed happen but the goal should be to minimize them as much as possible.
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
October 21, 2014 18:12
I am not surprised at all by the accident, just very saddened that two innocent people are dead, through the continuing laCk of any form of international safety. RIP.
Posted by
coxo
on
October 21, 2014 18:47
[quote]
The captain of the speedboat is likely to face a long jail term....
[/quote]
Do you really think so? Perhaps PW can keep us updated when the captain goes to Court and is (presumably) found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to a long jail term.
Or perhaps PW can update us when the captain is fined 1,000 baht and released.
Either way, I (and the families of the dead Koreans), would be interested to see what justice is served for this totally-avoidable tragedy.
Posted by
Simon Luttrell
on
October 21, 2014 19:24
With this very high number of the commercial boats in the area, there is no professional police or rescue diver team in Phuket or Krabi ? Quality tourists expect quality service...
Posted by
Resident
on
October 21, 2014 19:37
Editor Comment:
You need to be expert to get to 40 metres, Resident. All those people are working in tourism. It's not something that has to be done often, thank goodness.
Having lived here for many years and seen many accidents with Thailand being cleaned up it is strange that there are no divers any where in Thailand that could not have retrieved the bodies sooner than nearly two days after the crash and then according to PW non paid volunteers think how stressful it is to retrieve a dead body for these divers. The facts that this accident is hardly if at all reported on major news channels, CNN, BBC shows the difference in how the world views Thailand and say the UK, or the US, imagine if this happened in Florida, or the Thames in London every global news channel around the world would run the story, but Phuket they do not report.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
October 21, 2014 20:25
Editor Comment:
You can bet it will be reported strongly in Korea, FF. These days, people are unconcerned unless it is someone from the same country. By the way, it's not an ''accident.'' Why call it something it's not?
"These days, people are unconcerned unless it is someone from the same country."
I would suggest it will soon evolve beyond even that -
to the point that unless it is someone they actually know and care about, it's 'my bpen rai.'
Such is the state of myopia, in this world of supreme entitlement and the me, me, me, me, me ,me ,me-first world of 2014.. with a few exceptions.
Posted by
farang888
on
October 21, 2014 21:54
Exactly, Ed. It was not an accident. An accident is something out of the ordinary that could not reasonably be expected. What happened was neither unusual or unexpected given the training, competence and general idiocy of many speedboat drivers in Thailand. I speak from experience of keeping my own 50 ft sailing boat there for several years.
Posted by
barry
on
October 22, 2014 00:07
Ed, without wishing to get into an argument with you who clearly has an excellent command of words why do you say it was not an accident as it was an accident as it was not intentional, whether it could or should have been avoided is a different matter.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
October 22, 2014 11:01
Editor Comment:
We avoid use of the word. If ''Accident'' could be used in every case you think was ''unintentional,'' nobody would take responsibility for anything. In your world, there would be accidents all the time, everywhere. In our world, there is no such thing. Someone is always responsible. You seem quite confused.
I am not confused Ed I see the world as it is not through bifocals.
Posted by
Fiesty Farang
on
October 22, 2014 13:47
Editor Comment:
You see a series of accidents where I see lack of responsibility, FF. There are good jobs for you in Thailand.
Lack of safety, lack of training... nobody cares whilst the tourist dollars keep coming - although that's now beginning to dry up according to some reports.
My heart goes out to the family as they unknowingly put their lives in the hands of people who simply do not care.
May their poor souls rest in peace.
Posted by
Graham
on
October 22, 2014 14:29
@Ed ... your comment to Resident... "You need to be expert to get to 40 metres."
It's a four day training course for PADI Open Water. Specialist nitrox training can be done to dive deeper. The Thai authorities should provide such training to Thais. On that note there are already many Thai divers, divemasters and instructors.
Posted by
Graham
on
October 22, 2014 14:33
Editor Comment:
It's work for volunteers. Fortunately, there is no branch of government that needs these skills. Pretty simple, really. The need to recover bodies does not occur often. You and others should be grateful.
@ Ed " Fortunately, there is no branch of government that needs these skills" Ed Thailand is surrounded by ocean along a large part of both it's East and West coasts and near it's capital city. Do you really believe the government does not need divers, not necessarily to retrieve bodies but divers in general can retrieve bodies which does happen in Thailand in addition to the many other reasons they need divers like they need the navy as they are to a large extent surrounded by water. Ed, one of your less intelligent comments which you told us you were going to give up. Are you addicted to commenting?
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
October 22, 2014 16:51
Editor Comment:
Produce a list of the massive number of dive bodies that needed to be recovered from a considerable depth over the past few years, FF, or you have no case. I certainly remember the five bodies recovered by volunteer diver from the sunken Dive Asia several years ago - I was on the recovery boat. But as I said, these kinds of deaths are rare. Any money should be spent on preventing them from happening, not on having an expensive crew on standby. Please stop wasting my time with arguments you can't sustain.
Wouldn't the RTN have a dive section for conducting hull surveys or minor recovery.?
Port immigration authorities may also to check for illegal goods attached to the underside of ships on arrival?
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 22, 2014 16:57
Editor Comment:
Are you really expecting developed world standards in a developing country? You're like the Singapore guy on Patong beach, waiting for the helicopter airlift for his injured friend. Get real.
A Graham
"Specialist nitrox training can be done to dive deeper. "
This is a very common mistake you make here. Nitrox is not used to dive deeper, it has in comparison to air a lesser depth limit.
Posted by
stevenl
on
October 22, 2014 17:11
I suppose your right. A bit like one expecting first world media freedom and rights in a developing country under a military dictatorship.
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 22, 2014 18:13
During the exercise, part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2009, divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 and the RTN shared updated equipment and procedures with one another, with an emphasis on safety in the diving environment.
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 22, 2014 18:40
Editor Comment:
Not worth my time responding.
The RTN obviously have a dive team and use it for recovery if requested
Thai Divers, workers Join Search at Laos Crash Site. National 18/10/13
The Royal Thai Navy sent a 14-strong team, including nine divers, to help with retrieving the bodies and recovering the plane's wreckage from the Mekong River, according to Navy spokesman Rear Ammiral Kam Dee-ub on
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 22, 2014 19:07
Editor Comment:
Only someone who fails to understand the way the military works here and everywhere else would continue to suggest that because the Navy has divers, it should therefore recover the bodies of tourists.
Isn't that exactly what they were doing recovering the bodies of tourists from a crashed plane in the Mekong?
Isn't that the same situation as australian and ASEAN navies were doing in the MH370 in trying to find the wreckage to retrieve the bodies.
I think you may find that the navy of a country is involved in search and rescue within their territotorial waters as they are the only organisation having the necessary equipment and trained divers.
Maybe I'm wrong again, maybe they just sit on the dock and watch volunteers do the job.
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 22, 2014 20:52
Editor Comment:
Please address your questions to the Royal Thai Navy.
Thailand SAR
Activities
There are many government units involved in SAR activities, among most active are the Navy and Marine Police.... These units can provide their facilities to conduct marine SAR. Activities.....a.Navy special dive team can assist......
The rescue units with perform actual rescue in collaboration with central bodies are, the RTN, RTAF, Marine Police etc.
The bases of the Navy rescue units are Sattahip, Songkla, Phuket and Phang Nga.
Marine bases are located at Satun, Kantang, Phuket and Ranong.
Rescue units of the RTAF are located at Sirat Thani and Hat Yai.
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 23, 2014 04:17
Editor Comment:
You need to direct your questions to the Navy. As I said, recovery of bodies is a rare thing. Navy divers, I suspect, are not in the water every day the way that divers are in the tourism industry. It's logical to have the people who dive in the same waters every day and understand the conditions do the job. There is no issue here, except time-wasting.
"You need to direct your questions to the Navy. As I said, recovery of bodies is a rare thing. Navy divers, I suspect, are not in the water every day the way that divers are in the tourism industry. It's logical to have the people who dive in the same waters every day and understand the conditions do the job. There is no issue here, except time-wasting."
In other words "I'm back-pedalling"
Posted by
phonus balonus
on
October 23, 2014 06:22
Editor Comment:
It's a spurious debate so no wonder you're here PB, without a point to make as usual. Body-recovery is a job for expert volunteers. Your arrival proves intelligent debate is a total waste of time.
For a start the sunken vessel is a crime scene and someone is probably going to be charged with reckless navigation. The damaged caused to the vessel is part of the crime.
Thailand has a SAR supported by military and police and they are based in certain areas. The people available to and forming SAR have expertise in various areas of recovery.
How the bodies lay in the vessel will be part of any case, where they were located, what they were wearing and what injuries were present before the attempted recovery.
There are 2 issues. Recovery of those in the water and alive is the responsibility of any vessel requested to provide assistance in thai waters as directed by SAR or by local communication by passing SAR to ensure a quicker response.
The second is the recovery of bodies and evident obtained during.
Your response " only someone who fails to understand how the military works both here and everywhere else would continue to suggest that because the Navy has divers.." Etc
And
" it's work for volunteers. fortunately, there is no branch of government that needs these skills.."
This is just completely false as the government has put in place a SAR plan under its international obligations that states these resources and expertise will be used for exactly such purpose.
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 23, 2014 06:26
Editor Comment:
In the past two instances of body recovery off Phuket that I'm aware of, professional expat divers have been used. In the third instance where diving to a considerable depth was required, sea gypsies were called in. I am not doubting your knowledge about the resources that the military has available, simply making the point that you need to ask the authorities why the military wasn't deployed. My conclusion is that expat professionals and sea gypsies are more adept in those roles. Read my lips: take the issue to someone who is possibly interested, and who has time to spare.
"It's a spurious debate so no wonder you're here PB, without a point to make as usual."
Translation: "I am wrong, but rather than admit it I will instead launch an attack on those holding a different view to divert attention""
Posted by
phonus
on
October 23, 2014 07:25
Editor Comment:
Readers can decide most things for themselves, phonus. As a translator, you're about as successful at being accurate as you are with your comments. To call a sunken vessel a ''crime scene'' is the most flawed of Manowar's arguments. Both of you should give us on petty point-scoring and try changing the world for the better.
Sorry, just another flawed definition for the purpose of law enforcement and prosecution.
A crime scene is any physical scene, anywhere, that may provide potential evidence to an investigator. It may include a person???s body, any type of building, vehicles, places in the open air or objects found at those locations. ???Crime scene examination????? therefore refers to an examination where forensic or scientific techniques are used to preserve and gather phys- ical evidence of a crime.
A very simple action that investigators in any country can take is to make sure their staff are aware of the need to secure a crime scene. Investigators should do all they can to ensure that scenes (including the victims as well as the locations and the evidence at that location) are not interfered with, and to allow adequate time to strategize the ???forensic examination?????. Interference???leading to ???forensic contamination????????can be avoided by simple measures
?????? Controlling access to scenes
?????? Covering scenes
?????? Keeping records of everyone who has had access to a scene
?????? Taking fingerprints and DNA samples from staff before they are allowed to get to a scene
?????? Providing guidance in the packaging of recovered material, to prevent deterioration or contamination
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 23, 2014 09:35
Editor Comment:
Forgive me for offering a contrary view, Manowar, but a sunken vessel is not ''a crime scene.'' If charges are going to be laid, they will be laid on the evidence of a boatload of witnesses. The only evidence that has any bearing on this tragic case - the two bodies - has been recovered in expert fashion by the best people for the job. (Unless, that is, you really think they should be still looking for fingerprints.)
You wouldn't be copying and pasting, would you?
Of course it's copy and paste. The ?????'s come from Google.
Apparently law enforcement has an alternative opinion as they consider every underwater recovery, be it victim or evidentiary in nature with high potential of involving a criminal investigation to require similar techniques and documentation as used in a land based investigation, only wetter.
They do take fingerprints from submerged crime scenes, however in this case you are right, I don't believe they need to identify those on the boat.
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 23, 2014 10:24
Hi my wife and i were the 2 australians on board when it crashed.was wondering if the driver had been charged yet.he crashed into the side of the boat and not into the net like he claimed.
Posted by
daniel
on
January 21, 2015 15:56
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Why do the divers need to be volunteer divers when tourism brings in 10% of GDP?
Posted by Feisty Farang on October 21, 2014 17:01
Editor Comment:
Generally, it's the kind of work undertaken by volunteers, FF. They are able to go that deep. There is no ''body recovery'' unit on standby.