Nakhon Nayok officials react to tragic drowning of teen at privately run tourist attraction

By The Nation

 

 

A senior Nakhon Nayok provincial official visited a privately run tourist attraction in Mueang district’s Tambon Hin Tang on Monday to inspect the scene where a female Thai tourist had drowned on Sunday after being swept away when playing in a river.

 

The official, Khomthat Tantiyamas, said that he would call resort operators in the area and related agencies to a meeting soon to discuss measures aimed at preventing any recurrence of such a tragic event.

 

 

Nakhon Pathom resident Soraya Thornpap, 19, who did not know how to swim, was playing in a river with three other relatives and friends while holding on to one of the two flotation rings they had rented, when she was swept away by the current and slammed into a large tree.

 

This caused her to let go of the ring and subsequently drown on Sunday afternoon. 

 

Nakhon Nayok Governor Natthapong Sirichana then ordered workers at the Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam to halt water-releasing from the dam to aid the rescue workers’ operation to search for and retrieve the teenager’s body, which was completed at around 6pm on Sunday. 

 

A friend of the victim, identified only as “Jinda”, said that before they went to play in the river, they had not been warned by the attraction’s staff about any potential risk and had not been told to wear life jackets, which were available only on a rental basis. 

 

 

She said this was contrary to what the staff members had told the governor, namely that the existing requirement was for all water-playing visitors to wear life jackets. 

 

Jinda said her group had decided to play in the water because they saw many visitors already doing so using only flotation rings.

 

Moreover, she added, no lifeguards were manning various spots at the attraction, despite what the governor had been told.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30352044

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-13

 

So Thai staff members or the tourist are to be believed. Now that's a hard one! 

Fast flowing river.

Cannot swim.

Hand-held flotation device.

No lifeguards.

 

What could possibly go wrong?

This looks like Nang Rong Waterfall not the Dam next door as stated by the Nation.

 

We were  there yesterday - ironically I was taking some pictures and videos with the intention of posting them to a health and safety topic on another forum I visit !

 

Sad for the girl, but honestly surprised it doesn't happen more     

Some of the pics

1 hour ago, tebee said:

Some of the pics

Looking at those pic. tebee I wouldn't of gone in there yesterday and I can swim.  I wonder how many others in those pics can't swim. But then plenty can't drive but ........................................

21 hours ago, webfact said:

they had not been warned by the attraction’s staff about any potential risk

well, if they need a warning first.......nothing to comment. High price for stupidity

Doesnt seem particularly deep. Cant really blame the operators, she should have weighed up the risks based on her abilities,. RIP to her.

6 minutes ago, Aussieroaming said:

Doesnt seem particularly deep.

She does seem particularly dead though.

Agreed, play in a river or creek with fast running currents and there is more than a average chance of finding yourself eventually being sucked into trouble. As a kid we used to ride rubber tubes down a river in PNG. This went on each year with no issue until a girl fell off and got pinned under a rock ledge and drowned. This type of "fun" comes with inherent risks, not always easily to mitigate.

I feel sorry for the girl & her family/friends, but if you can't swim then it's best to take all the precautions or stay out of the water...

Seems like safety warnings/equipment is either lacking or on a hire basis which would exclude most people...

fun comes in most cases with a hint of danger which means it comes down to an individual choice to participate or not!

She made her choice...

RIP

finest health and safety in the world

On 8/13/2018 at 3:55 PM, webfact said:

had not been told to wear life jackets, which were available only on a rental basis

Oh dear lord.

Looks like a fun place. I can't see any OH&S issues at all. Let the kids have fun!