Phuket – A female Chinese tourist has broken her leg after a parasailing accident at Karon Beach.

The news went viral on Thai social media this week after the Facebook Page ‘Luijeen’ posted her story which is originally from the Chinese media., as seen below.

 

https://www.douyin.com/video/7340246270566567203 

 

The tourist said that on February 24th she was parasailing at Karon Beach but was unable to control the parasail causing it to hit the ground. Her leg broke in the incident. The parasail operator then called emergency services. The tourist said that she waited for two hours for an ambulance to arrive at the beach because of a traffic jam.

 

After she arrived at a hospital, she waited for another six hours until she was transferred to a private hospital because the first hospital did not have enough equipment. She had her leg stitched for an injury approximately 15 centimeters long.

 

By Goongnang Suksawat

 

Full story: THE PHUKET EXPRESS 2024-02-29

 

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4 minutes ago, webfact said:

The tourist said that she waited for two hours for an ambulance to arrive at the beach because of a traffic jam.

She lucky in the sense that she suffered only a broken leg and not something more severe like internal injuries....

3 hours ago, webfact said:

she was parasailing at Karon Beach but was unable to control the parasail causing it to hit the ground

Sounds like she was not ready enough to take part in such activity.

I was told this story last night, they said her hospital bill was 150,000 baht and the business owner only offered to pay 50,000 baht for hospital.

This is a recreational activity that carries risk.  Like mountain biking. 

 

Most companies would/should have a risk document detailing indemnity which would be signed by the customer. 

 

Unsure if its applicable here. Things do go wrong on occasion, that's life.

 

Is Thailand like the USA, in that if there is a smidgen of blame then you sue for all you can get? 

 

If at first you don't succeed then parachuting is not for you. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The tourist said that on February 24th she was parasailing at Karon Beach but was unable to control the parasail causing it to hit the ground. Her leg broke in the incident. The parasail operator then called emergency services.

The story has since gone viral on Chinese social media with hundreds of thousands of shares and millions of views and Phuket officials are now working with the tourist and her interpreter to secure an agreement for compensation for the injuries, along with having visited the tourist and personally apologizing for the incident.

A number of Phuket officials visited the parasail operator in question, whose name was withheld due to the pending investigation, and confirmed that the operator was legal, with a proper license and other legal requirements.

The operator, who says they have ten witnesses, has reportedly blamed the wind for changing suddenly and causing the accident and that the accident was not due to any sort of fault on their part, but is also “participating” in the mediation process and aware of the tourism ramifications of the accident.

 

Damage limitation at work.

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The story has since gone viral on Chinese social media with hundreds of thousands of shares and millions of views and Phuket officials are now working with the tourist and her interpreter to secure an agreement for compensation for the injuries, along with having visited the tourist and personally apologizing for the incident.

A number of Phuket officials visited the parasail operator in question, whose name was withheld due to the pending investigation, and confirmed that the operator was legal, with a proper license and other legal requirements.

The operator, who says they have ten witnesses, has reportedly blamed the wind for changing suddenly and causing the accident and that the accident was not due to any sort of fault on their part, but is also “participating” in the mediation process and aware of the tourism ramifications of the accident.

 

Damage limitation at work.

 

it's the wind wot did it, nothing to do with me mate.

 

hope the lady in question gets the appropriate medical and other assistance and recovers quickly.

There should be no need for negotiation of compensation with the operator if proper insurance was in place.

When you do dangerous activities like this, is there not a part of your brain that recognizes there is inherent danger involved?

 

Would you not do exhaustive research first, via internet sites to learn how to do such an activity safely?

 

She participates in a dangerous activity, breaks her leg, and then begins to blame traffic, the hospitals, and of-course the owner of the business along with tom, dick and harry, but does not bother to point the blame where it belongs, to herself!

Waiting two hours with a broken leg.......that is not fun.

 

Broke my right arm in six places (never went to any of those places again) and had to wait 24 hours for pain killers.......I was close to tears.

10 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Sounds like she was not ready enough to take part in such activity.

 

How 'ready' do you need to be for this activity ? - you are towed behind a boat with a parachute (sail) - any participant is a mere passenger.... So, what 'readiness' did she need ???? - or is your only interest in victim blaming without knowing the activity ?

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, CanadaSam said:

When you do dangerous activities like this, is there not a part of your brain that recognizes there is inherent danger involved?

 

Would you not do exhaustive research first, via internet sites to learn how to do such an activity safely?

 

She participates in a dangerous activity, breaks her leg, and then begins to blame traffic, the hospitals, and of-course the owner of the business along with tom, dick and harry, but does not bother to point the blame where it belongs, to herself!

 

This is an activity which occurs on beaches in tourist areas all over the world ... while there is of course risk, this is not an activity I'd consider dangerous...  Its not like Parachuting, or Paragliding.

 

That said: OK, there was an accident and accidents happen, especially if there was no negligence of the operators to blame. 

 

But - the 2 hours wait for an Ambulance due to traffic is horrific and unacceptable. 

As is having to wait 6 hours be transfered to another hospital because the first didn't have the equipment to deal with a broken leg. 

 

Thats an 8 hour delay in receiving emergency treatment which is atrocious. 

 

 

The Operator is reportedly blaming the wind for changing..... In which case, surely the operator is to blame for 'not reading' the weather conditions ???

 

 

On 2/29/2024 at 4:36 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

How 'ready' do you need to be for this activity ? - you are towed behind a boat with a parachute (sail) - any participant is a mere passenger.... So, what 'readiness' did she need ???? - or is your only interest in victim blaming without knowing the activity ?

 

 

 

 

Seems like you got suggestions on that in the post you quoted exactly under the qoute of mine.

You would have to be mad to engage in any of these kinds of activities here in Thailand; parasailing, zip lining, climbing, bungee, etc. 

 

I once did a work at height and rescue course at a well known training provider in Laem Chabang, and the safety harnesses were all ripped, buckles and carabiners were rusty, and all the equipment was over ten years old. 

 

Safety is not a concern here, even for those that teach it, so don't put your life in their hands!