Picture and video courtesy Phuketinsta.

 

A Russian family’s island excursion in Phuket nearly ended in tragedy when their tour boat began taking on water near Phi Phi Island. The family, who had booked their trip through a local agency without receiving an official receipt, was left stranded at sea before being rescued by a passing fishing vessel.

 

Mikhail, a Russian tourist vacationing in Phuket with his family, had purchased a boat tour to Phi Phi Island through a Patong based tour company. The trip cost 3,300 baht, but instead of receiving an official receipt, he was handed only a handwritten note.

 

The tour seemed to proceed normally until disaster struck mid-journey. Passengers were suddenly alarmed by a loud scraping noise, after which the boat began rapidly taking on water.

 

As panic set in, the crew attempted to manage the situation by bailing out water with buckets, but their efforts were proving futile. Passengers, including children, feared for their safety as the vessel continued to sink.

 

In the ensuing chaos, one woman fell overboard and became tangled in ropes. Fortunately, quick-thinking passengers and crew managed to rescue her before she was swept away by the current.

 

As the boat’s condition worsened, a nearby fishing vessel spotted the distressed tourists and came to their aid. The fishermen managed to transfer all passengers onto their boat, averting what could have been a tragedy.

 

Once safely back on land, Mikhail and the other tourists contacted the Patong tour company to report the incident. However, instead of expressing concern, the agency reportedly dismissed their complaints with a smile, assuring them that there was “no problem” and promising a refund for the ill-fated trip.

 

The incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of boat tours in Thailand, particularly those operated by unregulated agencies that fail to provide proper documentation and safety assurances. Without an official receipt, tourists may have little recourse for compensation or legal action in the event of accidents.

 

Authorities in Phuket have previously warned visitors about the risks of booking tours through unlicensed operators, urging them to verify credentials and ensure they receive official invoices or receipts before making payments.

 

As the peak tourist season continues, this latest incident serves as a stark reminder for visitors to exercise caution when booking excursions and to prioritise safety over cost when choosing tour operators.

 

-- 2025-01-31

 

 

 

When did this happen? Strong winds Wednesday.

21 minutes ago, stevenl said:

When did this happen? Strong winds Wednesday.

...and no electric or manual pumps on board.

Another day in paradise😕

28 minutes ago, stevenl said:

When did this happen? Strong winds Wednesday.

It was posted all over Russian social media sites on 29 January, but gave no exact date, on that it happened this week.

15 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

It was posted all over Russian social media sites on 29 January, but gave no exact date, on that it happened this week.

Thanks. On 28 and 29 I recommended against diving at certain open places. A speedboat had no business going out to Phi Phi with those winds.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Mikhail, a Russian tourist vacationing in Phuket with his family, had purchased a boat tour to Phi Phi Island through a Patong based tour company. The trip cost 3,300 baht, but instead of receiving an official receipt, he was handed only a handwritten note.

Bon Voyage ?

Does anyone keep stats, on the number of these boats, that sink, or are disabled, each year.