PHUKET: A Russian tourist has told for the first time of the horror of the moment she realised on a Phuket beach that her husband had been struck by the propeller of a wayward speedboat.
Mrs Nikolai Nefedov was speaking from her husband's bedside at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City - with the couple also embroiled in a dispute about holiday insurance.
The couple's blissful 12-day break on Phuket went horribly wrong on Friday when a speedboat with only the driver on board ploughed into a swimming area at Phuket's popular Kata beach.
No Phuket tourism authorities have since visited the wounded Russian tourist, nor has the speedboat company bothered to send flowers or a representative to discuss compensation.
''I am also disappointed at the lack of consideration shown by consular officials on Phuket,'' she said, still hoping that after one more operation on Tuesday her husband can fly home to Russia as scheduled on Thursday.
''Nikolai is a strong swimmer,'' she told Phuketwan today. ''He was with some other swimmers in the water at Kata beach, where we had been having a great holiday, when the speedboat suddenly came at them.
''I was on the beach. It was a while before I realised Nikolai had been struck. He managed to dive under the water, but the propeller struck his legs. When he signalled to the driver of the boat to help him, the man seemed reluctant.
''Nicolai actually had to climb the stairs on board the speedboat by himself, then signal to the driver that he needed to be taken ashore.''
In previous cases where tourists have sustained serious injuries, the Phuket companies involved usually go out of their way to visit them.
On occasions, Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong or Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha have apologised in person on behalf of Phuket.
When young Ukranian honeymooners Tetiana Meia and Artem Perepelitsyn were injured in an elephant rampage on Phuket in September, the trekking company involved paid them compensation and were concerned to make sure the pair made a full recovery.
A tourist is seriously wounded by Speedboat No. 18 at Kata beach . . . and there is resounding silence.
Nothing from the driver or the company involved, nothing either from Marine Office 5, which oversees Phuket's speedboats and jet-skis.
Zoning controls have recently been proposed for jet-skis and speedboats at Phuket's Patong beach. But as with the driver of the Kata speedboat, taking responsibility for the safety of swimmers is by no means assured.
As increasing numbers of tourists crowd the water at Phuket's beaches, the safest solution is to move jet-ski operators and parasailers further away from the beaches, using offshore pontoons as Boracay island does in the Philippines.
Nikolai Nefedov was first taken to Phuket International Hospital on Friday and treated until it was discovered that his insurance company only has a relationship with one Phuket hospital, Vachira Phuket.
His wife's passport - she left it there voluntarily, according to a hospital spokesperson - can be collected at any time from Phuket International, a spokesperson said today.
But that still leaves the matter of who pays the 13,000 baht bill for Mr Nefedov's initial treatment.
Clearly, responsibility for compensation lies with the company that runs Kata speedboat No. 18, plus its wayward driver.
But so far, nobody in authority on Phuket has shown signs that they care.
Mrs Nikolai Nefedov was speaking from her husband's bedside at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City - with the couple also embroiled in a dispute about holiday insurance.
The couple's blissful 12-day break on Phuket went horribly wrong on Friday when a speedboat with only the driver on board ploughed into a swimming area at Phuket's popular Kata beach.
No Phuket tourism authorities have since visited the wounded Russian tourist, nor has the speedboat company bothered to send flowers or a representative to discuss compensation.
''I am also disappointed at the lack of consideration shown by consular officials on Phuket,'' she said, still hoping that after one more operation on Tuesday her husband can fly home to Russia as scheduled on Thursday.
''Nikolai is a strong swimmer,'' she told Phuketwan today. ''He was with some other swimmers in the water at Kata beach, where we had been having a great holiday, when the speedboat suddenly came at them.
''I was on the beach. It was a while before I realised Nikolai had been struck. He managed to dive under the water, but the propeller struck his legs. When he signalled to the driver of the boat to help him, the man seemed reluctant.
''Nicolai actually had to climb the stairs on board the speedboat by himself, then signal to the driver that he needed to be taken ashore.''
In previous cases where tourists have sustained serious injuries, the Phuket companies involved usually go out of their way to visit them.
On occasions, Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong or Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha have apologised in person on behalf of Phuket.
When young Ukranian honeymooners Tetiana Meia and Artem Perepelitsyn were injured in an elephant rampage on Phuket in September, the trekking company involved paid them compensation and were concerned to make sure the pair made a full recovery.
A tourist is seriously wounded by Speedboat No. 18 at Kata beach . . . and there is resounding silence.
Nothing from the driver or the company involved, nothing either from Marine Office 5, which oversees Phuket's speedboats and jet-skis.
Zoning controls have recently been proposed for jet-skis and speedboats at Phuket's Patong beach. But as with the driver of the Kata speedboat, taking responsibility for the safety of swimmers is by no means assured.
As increasing numbers of tourists crowd the water at Phuket's beaches, the safest solution is to move jet-ski operators and parasailers further away from the beaches, using offshore pontoons as Boracay island does in the Philippines.
Nikolai Nefedov was first taken to Phuket International Hospital on Friday and treated until it was discovered that his insurance company only has a relationship with one Phuket hospital, Vachira Phuket.
His wife's passport - she left it there voluntarily, according to a hospital spokesperson - can be collected at any time from Phuket International, a spokesperson said today.
But that still leaves the matter of who pays the 13,000 baht bill for Mr Nefedov's initial treatment.
Clearly, responsibility for compensation lies with the company that runs Kata speedboat No. 18, plus its wayward driver.
But so far, nobody in authority on Phuket has shown signs that they care.
Sad story. I hope the guy recovers without a limp.
Posted by Anonymous on December 5, 2011 17:44