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Tourist 'Sliced on Parasail Beach'
By Chutima Sidasathian and Prasit Tarnsirisin Tuesday, December 16, 2014
PHUKET: This is what a parasaiing speedboat propeller does when it hits human flesh, as Russian tourist Sergey Kuzennyy found out while swimming off a Phuket beach on Wednesday.
''I saw the speedboat coming at the last moment so I tried to dive,'' he said from his Mission Hospital bed in Phuket City yesterday. ''I was only 20 metres off the shore.
''The speedboat turned back and the captain yelled out 'OK? OK?' But I didn't understand what else he said,'' the 55-year-old added through a translator.
''Then the boat roared off.
''The cuts didn't hurt but when I reached the beach a German woman saw the blood and helped me into the Katathani [resort] and they took me to hospital.''
Phuket residents have foolishly thought that the beach at Kata Noi, where Mr Kuzennyy was struck, was one of the island's supposedly jet-ski and speedboat free beaches.
Wrong. According to the Chief of Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, who oversees the use of the dangerous machines among swimmers on Phuket: ''It's a sub-zone.''
Under Khun Phuripat's tenure, the jet-skis and parasailing speedboats - once due to be phased out on Phuket over seven years - have grown in number and spread to beaches where they weren't supposed to operate.
Some are operating illegally but there is little enforcement.
Mr Kuzennyy's cuts go deep but fortunately he has travel insurance. It's the second year in a row he has stayed at the Katathani but he's not sure whether he will be back on Phuket next year.
Khun Phuripat is not going to mention the issue to the driver of the speedboat. ''This is an accident,'' he told Phuketwan today.
''Tomorrow at Kata-Karon council offices we are going to have a meeting about safety on the water. But we can't guarantee that accidents won't happen.''
The move towards phasing out the dangerous machines and eventually banning them on Phuket as they are banned in the neighboring provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga faded as successive Phuket governors compromised the deal.
With plans to segment many Phuket beaches so that jet-skis and parasailing speedboats can continue to operate alongside swimmers, more ''accidents'' can be expected.
Khun Phuripat says five Phuket organisations will sign an MoU on water safety when the Minister for Transport visits on December 22 to exchange new speedboat lifejackets for old ones.
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Comments
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Khun Phuripat continues to embarass Phuket with his willingness to ignore the problems and never place tourists/ residents first (preferring to put commercial greed above everything).
Posted by
Duncan
on
December 16, 2014 13:34
Again only "This an accident". Ashaming Thailand The government is knowing and willing endangering innocent lives. No one with authority takes action. The pocket filing keeps NR. 1. Tosay gets announced Thailand is ranked nr. 4 in the world for illegal money transpher. Start giving attention to life saving and to prevent action. The Rice bowl is getting brolen. World wide attention is growing. Tourism is not 20% (TAT figures) but a LOT Higher down... Those who cause this should be hold responsible. 22th May is bringing what I had hoped for.
Posted by
phuketgreed
on
December 16, 2014 13:41
Does anyone know who Khun Phuripat's boss is? Does he work for the Governor, or does Marine 5 work into a different organisation? One has to feel that a complaint should be made about the performance of his organisation.
If I ever run over a pedestrian I am just going to state it was "an accident", in which case the police will take no further action. Or is that flawed logic?
Posted by
Amazing Thailand
on
December 16, 2014 15:23
This is beyond a joke..... NOBODY knows what areas are swim safe and those that are not. When are the authorities going to have a campaign to let everyone know whats what in this seriously damaging / embarrassing situation.
Posted by
DG
on
December 16, 2014 15:40
Madness, what needs to happen all?
Can not make a protest movement, which leads to a popular vote? In order to finally end this madness !!!!
But how does it work without having someone comes in danger?
I know this is Thailand, but i only think, what we can do.
Posted by
steve
on
December 16, 2014 16:01
Yes Khun Phuripat, you can guarantee that these type accidents wont happen, open your eyes, use your brain and ban jet skis and para sailers. Be a man and stand up to these thugs instead of bowing to them.
Posted by
Shwe
on
December 16, 2014 16:02
I'm voting with my feet... no more Phuket until this problems are solved. Good for Krabi, good for Hua Hin....
Posted by
Dominik
on
December 16, 2014 17:29
a few Chinese tourists "tarnished the image of China" and are blacklisted from leaving their province and they're tour guide had his license suspended.
Khun Puripat tarnishes the image of Phuket/Thailand almost weekly and... nothing!!!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
December 16, 2014 17:40
as a 47 yo man i wouldn't give a f... about some scars on my leg. still donet wanna be run over by a speedboat tho but imagen if this was a kid.. or a 20 yo woman... this is 100% avoidable by banning them. but to ban them takes a real Man or a Woman ofcoz... unbelievable this is not stopped...
Posted by
frog
on
December 16, 2014 17:57
Khun Phuripat please wake up . Kata Noi is a swimming zone . i am suprised that the Kata Thani has nothing to say or do to protect there guests . may a recomend you put out a rope and bouys the full length of the beach to about 40 meters of shore to protect the people who are keeping you in Business , YOUR GUESTS
Posted by
tony Kenny
on
December 16, 2014 18:41
Someone asked who Chief of Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut's boss is. He has several... they all own jet skis and parasail boats.
Posted by
Ed Sanders
on
December 16, 2014 19:22
Sorry typing error. 22th May is NOT bringing what I hoped & prayed for. Tourist Intrest even worsen. The rice Bowl IS broken
Posted by
phuketgreed
on
December 16, 2014 19:26
Shwe: He has to find a brain first, then try & use it. I've lost count of the number of times this guy's come up with ridiculous comments, but don't expect anyone to take responsibility.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
December 16, 2014 19:39
This is a form of insanity, the same thing happens over and over again - and lots of talk - no action..with the same results of carnage..
Posted by
farang888
on
December 16, 2014 22:14
Knowingly leaving the scene of a accident failing to render assistance just left him to bleed and possibly succumb to his injuries and there not going to speak with the speed boat operator just a accident what logic is this the old its the tourists fault for being in Thailand on all counts its totally unacceptable.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
December 16, 2014 22:58
Amazing! "Khun Phuripat is not going to mention the issue to the driver of the speedboat. ''This is an accident,'' he told Phuketwan today." No Khun Phuriapt, this is an accident waiting to happen, as it has once again. Boats, jet skis and swimmers don't mix. The vast majority of people using the beaches aren't para sailing or jet skiing yet these operations are allowed to operate on public beaches in Phuket. One really has to wonder why? Especially after all other businesses that operated on the public beaches have been cleared???
Posted by
Jim McGowan
on
December 17, 2014 04:41
I would like to commend Phuketwan for being brave enough to publish these disturbing images.
If there was ever a case to stop jet-ski's and parasailing in Phuket, just gaze at the images of this unfortunate tourist.
Posted by
reader
on
December 17, 2014 05:18
Visited Phuket once two years ago and will never be back. Put me off Thailand full stop, but reading posts here and speaking to others
Phuket appears to be the problem not Thailand. Would not accept a free holiday to Phuket until i start reading positive headlines , do not think this will ever happen. A shame
Posted by
Stuart
on
December 17, 2014 05:32
A 100% BAN on all JET SKI'S and PARASAIL operations on ALL West Coast beaches is the ONLY answer....GET RID OF THEM NOW
Posted by
DG
on
December 17, 2014 07:06
DG, and of the stakeholders who have some kind of interest in this situation is motivated to shut jet-ski and parasailing boats....?
Only big part of tourists - but by far not all: e.g. Indians *loves* all that stuff, and , obviously,consider all those risks acceptable - giving a kind of environment where they find from on holiday.
With ever increasing overall demand - at least because China becoming richer and richer , and there are so many subjects of it, there is a vast supply of 1st time visitors or price - sensitive folks - Thailand still attracts by its low price of accomidation so much - as it is difficult fir people to factor in other costs.
So there is no pressure from tourists side - those who dislike Phuket/Thailand move on, at the same time next shift arrives.
Occupancy rates are extremely healthy - to complain that they are not 100% but just 70%- 80% on average - when n hospitality industry 50% average over the year occupancy rate is that on which budget and business plans are usually built.
With that I would say that even with sons fluctuaton in number of tourists - that can not create sufficient market impetus as a reaction on all wrongs in Phuket - , there is no force to get through any changes in regard of jet ski, taxis or whatever .
The only technical possibility is that a wise higher authority will pursue it, which may or may not happen - they have so many other things to do.
Most of other stakeholders have economic interests vested in the current situations , including those who may influence a situation in course of their official duties l
Posted by
Sue
on
December 17, 2014 08:46
Editor Comment:
To stay an up-market, nature and beauty contender, Phuket must clear out the jet-skis and parasailers.
This Phuripat is protecting them long enough already, systematically rejecting all claims and blaming victims.
Posted by
jean-paul patrick
on
December 17, 2014 09:23
Unfortunately i believe Khun Phurithats interests are not the same as the the people of Phuket and Tourists alike.
Posted by
Ciaran
on
December 17, 2014 09:25
The real issue here is that people are being injured and being killed by these machines.There needs to be an investigation
Posted by
AJ
on
December 17, 2014 09:46
The "it was an accident" as though that should mean no responsibility for the accident ranks right up there with "they dont need licenses despite it being a law, because they only do it for a few days each holiday"...
The total disregard for the laws, by the very people responsible for administering the island, is just mind boggling.
Posted by
LivinLOS
on
December 17, 2014 11:37
Writing this off as an accident is akin to putting a road through a playground and claiming it's an just an accident when a kid gets hit.
Posted by
concerned in karon
on
December 18, 2014 09:26
This is shocking and it would be good if there was an indication that through all the visuals and comments and sentiment on YOUR website, that there was an indication that there is hope for change and that the relentless and focused ridicule of the jetski setup and it acolytes and corrupt owners/operator collusion would lead the authorities to seek to make a difference, but there is none whatsoever, so what is the point of us all bothering. We are expats and we are farting into thunder. Even when there is a seeming move to better the situation (insurance, 3 strikes etc), it is nothing but smoke and mirrors for appearances sake. Anyone that comes on this site and says this is terrible and must stop and they should do "this and that" and what they should be changing (zoning/ offshore platforms/anything else) is basically wasting their time and energy, and if fact a sad git. Unless they resurrect Consuls' meetings and seek to change the jetski scenario, forget it. Nobody that has any power is looking at this, or any other expat dominated website whatsoever. The jetskis are not going away in our lifetimes so forget it .Stop posting and just watch the sunsets with earplugs in.
Posted by
phonus balonus
on
December 21, 2014 23:22
I just received news that a 22 year girl from Norway was killed by a motorboat while scubadiving in Thailand. Statistics are getting ugly now!
Posted by
Terry
on
December 23, 2014 12:15
I have been swimming in Kamala near the police station for 21 days and the jet ski, longboat and the most annoying and dangerous the parasailing are still operate near swimmers.
What the authority are waiting to enforce a ban.
Posted by
Giovanni
on
March 4, 2015 11:56
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Khun Phuripat continues to embarass Phuket with his willingness to ignore the problems and never place tourists/ residents first (preferring to put commercial greed above everything).
Posted by Duncan on December 16, 2014 13:34