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One Dead, One Lost, Two Rescued in Whitewater Disaster North of Phuket

Friday, June 8, 2012
UPDATE

THE BODY of a tourist from Kuwait has been found and searchers are looking for a second man, from Egypt, missing after a whitewater capsize. A person at a whitewater rafting company said the capsize took place between 11am and noon. An Egyptian woman and a Kuwaiti man were treated at a hospital and allowed to return to their resort in Patong, on Phuket.

Original Report

PHUKET: Two tourists are believed to be missing after a whitewater capsize in Phang Nga, the province north of Phuket, according to reports coming to Phuketwan today.

A spokesperson at Phang Nga Hospital said that two people, rescued after the capsize, are now being treated at the hospital.

Police and rescue organisations are searching for two other tourists, lost today near Baan Songprag in what's believed to be a whitewater excursion.

Tour companies based on Phuket often take groups of Phuket tourists north to Phang Nga for an adventurous day trip of whitewater rafting.

Although round inflated rafts are usually used in the whitewater, sources say the four tourists were in a less stable canoe.

Heavy monsoon rains yesterday over the Phuket-Phang Nga region dumped massive amounts of water, making streams and creeks flow at probably unprecedented levels.

The Phuket-Phang Nga whitewater season begins with the monsoon downpours of June and runs through the wet season until November.

A 22-year-old tourist from Scotland drowned whitewater rafting in Phang Nga August 2006.

About 12 months earlier, Australian Rachel O'Neill, 29, drowned when she fell out of a raft and was trapped underwater by rocks.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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Just type on Google: white water rafting federation association... and you will find that many countries around the world, especially in Europe, Nort-America and New-Zealand have their own federation and associations with regulations and training courses up to Instructors to have safe fun.
Professional whitewater guides have training in rescue, First Aid and CPR as we have the same as Scuba Diving Instructors.
In Thailand, anyone without any knowledge and proper training is able to open a whitewater business and get a TAT license.
In Thailand, the lack of proper official organization such as federation and associations put at risk the life of tourists who suppose they are in safe hands with local people.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on June 8, 2012 16:28

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May the Rest In Peace.
It is a waste off lifes, all because off Greed from the rental people behind this.
For over a week we have clear warnings for dangerous waves and it is common known that even creeks and rivers are dangerous after heavy rainfall like we have know.

Posted by PhuketExpat on June 8, 2012 16:29

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Please if you knew any update regarding the missing Egyptian please tell me he is my cousin !!!!!!!

Posted by Mostafa on June 10, 2012 05:08

Editor Comment:

We will check with the rescuers again today, Mostafa.

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any update please !!

Posted by Mostafa on June 10, 2012 21:31

Editor Comment:

Mostafa, I regret to say we are not able to offer any good news.

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the kuwaiti who die is my cousin and since friday we are trying to sne the body to kuwait and still kept in thiland . please his Mom crying day and night please send him as soon as possible to kuwait His name is Aref

Posted by soosan on June 11, 2012 16:19

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R I P and deepest condolences to their families. So tragic an event.

Posted by Robin on June 11, 2012 17:57

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REST in Peace Hossam Ameeeen ....and God wz your wife
(friend from egypt)

Posted by Mona on June 14, 2012 14:29

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a big tragedy to loss a 24 y old gentelman hossam who was just married this raise many questions, did this raft discovery co. follow safety and weather instructions, according to weather figures that day it was bad also what about insurance securing tourists in this situation which is well known, i think family should raise this case to court to be investigated and I am sure they should be compensated for negligence.

Posted by dr ashraf on June 17, 2012 16:20


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