Russian Tourist Cut In Half By Speedboat's Propellers, Another Missing

[bkkjames]

Yeah, I would like to know what is a prohibited area as well. I never heard of such a thing in Thailand before.

I think they mean areas outside of the ropes. I saw it a few weeks ago in Pats, some guys swimming in areas quite far out where boats and jetskis frequent.

Anyways, RIP.

[BWPattaya]

We hear about this happening in Thailand because we are here. It happens elsewhere too. I saw someone lose a hand to a speedboat propellor on a lake in the UK.

Whoever they are I hope the end was swift for them A terrible way to die. I don't think there is any need for racist or humorous comments.

[PhilHarries]

Yeah, I would like to know what is a prohibited area as well. I never heard of such a thing in Thailand before.

I think they mean areas outside of the ropes. I saw it a few weeks ago in Pats, some guys swimming in areas quite far out where boats and jetskis frequent.

Anyways, RIP.

AFAIK the roped off areas are prohibited zones for power craft, outside the rope it's free water.

It's easy to blame the boatman but if the divers had no marker out he wouldn't have known they were there.

Whatever the facts of the case RIP to the poor souls and condolences to their friends and families.

[thykeeper]

I stopped diving in Pattaya because of the close calls i had had with speedboats etc. One time at Kohlarn the owner of the diveshop told another boat to be careful there were divers down there. And the reply was do you own the water. After the japanese girl was killed a few years ago by speedboat something was supposed to be done about this. Obviously not enough has been done if anything and more innocent people are dead. There is a boat sinking or capsizing in Pattaya almost every week aswell and the captains usually do a runner, the authorities need to really do something this time. I certainly hope so for the good of Pattaya.

Totally pathetic the regard for safety is here. One more person killed in a totally avoidable accident and this will not the last. It's 2010, let the blood flow!

[robee]

Very sad.

But a group of us were out there last week. There were a large number of foreigners there. However many of them insisted in swimming in the area designated for jet ski or speed boats. There were a number of near misses. The owner of the hotel there on several occassions tried to explain where people should swim but he was ignored.

begs

hard to grasp that a near miss and swimmers unwilling to move. What hotel?

[anon467367354]

That is just horrible and condolences to the family. There is no way to know who was to be blamed for this. Yes boats have to be careful, divers should have a dive flag or somthing. I don't think Thailand is jinxed, I think it's the news we see the most. I watch the news from Los Angeles USA, and I guess one would think LA was cursed. This is a party "town" Thailand is. Recreation and conscious altering drugs don't mix too well. Of course we can't blame that either, we just don't have enough information. RIP

[robee]

We hear about this happening in Thailand because we are here. It happens elsewhere too. I saw someone lose a hand to a speedboat propellor on a lake in the UK.

Whoever they are I hope the end was swift for them A terrible way to die. I don't think there is any need for racist or humorous comments.

true.

not to be on band wagon, saw similar incident at bass lake ca USA.

[jippytum]

There have been a lot of incidents off KO Larn in recent weeks .Tighter enforcement of regulations is overdue

[jeanpierre]

My biggest horror when swimming in areas with speedboats or jetskis.

As for diving, I am shocked that dive operators still do not advise their customers to use those inflatable "bananas" that mark resurfacing divers.

RIP

seafari soi 12 pattaya do give this advice even obliged to do so !!!

[begsaresponse]

Very sad.

But a group of us were out there last week. There were a large number of foreigners there. However many of them insisted in swimming in the area designated for jet ski or speed boats. There were a number of near misses. The owner of the hotel there on several occassions tried to explain where people should swim but he was ignored.

begs

So there was area designated. People need to learn to respect that if they want to be safe.

There were two designated areas for safe swimming.

begs

[raro]

Deleted two posts with tasteless remarks and dished out sanctions.

Next offender will spend more time in the nick as you cannot say you haven't been warned.

raro

[Samuian]

R.I.P.!

.......my Condolences to Friends and Family!

Sad, so sad, yet another tragic accident!

No diving buoy?

[pattaya_girl]

Wow, how sad.

My condolences to the friends and family of the deceased.

[Briggsy]

It is one death after another on these Koh Lan trips. Usually Chinese, Russians, and Koreans.

Edited January 11, 2010 by Briggsy

[Zebo]

I wonder if the dive boat was flying the Alpha flag. If they were, then the driver of the speed boat can be charged under international maritime law.

Edit: Not holding my breath.

Edited January 11, 2010 by Zebo

[babuhavas]

enough is enough,its really high time to enforce some law at pattaya beach.

RIP

[Tywais]

Off topic post deleted.

[harleyclarkey]

Horrible and a very tragic accident.....more than likely avoidable.

I am surprised that there has not been more incidents like this.

[harleyclarkey]

Deleted two posts with tasteless remarks and dished out sanctions.

Next offender will spend more time in the nick as you cannot say you haven't been warned.

raro

It never ceases to amaze me the mind set of the idiots here with a peanut for a brain.

A guy has lost his life...another missing and they find this a fit topic to make jokes or stupid remarks about??

These guys are clowns and need to get out more.

[Frankster]

Same almost happend to me in Phuket 3 days ago .... The speed boats should stay well away from dive boats but they don't ......

THIS IS THAILAND .....

[uts]

Horrifying. Wonder if they were diving as part of an organised group and if the spot was marked?

If they were serious divers, a blue divers vicinity flag would be placed in the area of the diving activity.

I have been diving in this area, and the boat driver, despite being told not to leave the diving area,

simply disappeared when I surfaced with the diving buddy.

These 'cowboy' operators simply do not understand, and do not care of any pending consequences.

The sooner tighter licensing regulations are introduced to prevent this kind of occurrence, the better.

This is NOT a wake up call, it was simply an event that was going to happen, surprisingly not sooner.

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[cuddleypete]

Tragic accident RIP

[Navalator]

This story is not at all surprising considering how the cowboys operate their speed boats. Farang jet ski drivers are just as bad. There is a total lack of responsible behavior on the Pattaya and Jomtien beaches. The police are unconcerned so it is anarchy on the water. Locals know enough to stay away but tourists never learn. And of course the beach boys just laugh all the way to the bank.

[JatujakShopper]

Another casualty of this country's disregard for safety and disrespect for human life. Say what you like that's what I see daily.

[webfact]

Russian Tourist sliced-open and killed following speed boat accident near Larn Island

11th January 2010

On Monday Afternoon, in the waters off Lan Island close to Dar Yai Beach which is located 4kms off the coast of Pattaya, a boating accident occurred, which resulted in the death of a Russian Tourist who sustained a major laceration to his abdomen. The incident occurred while the man was swimming; however he was approximately 100 meters outside of the designated swimming zone, according to initial reports and was actually swimming in a boating channel. A speedboat named "Kantalak 409", driven by Khun Narongrit approached the area and the blades of his outboard motors came into contact with the victim, named as Mr. Oleg Poliakov aged 40. Khun Narongrit gave himself up to authorities who believe him to have complied with boating regulations even though he failed to spot the Russian Tourist in the water. Three other Russian Tourists who accompanied the victim to the Island were escorted back to Pattaya where Russian Embassy officials met them. They are currently assisting Police with the investigation. Initial reports of this being a diving accident have been discounted as have initial reports of a second Russian man feared missing which has also been found not to be correct.

http://www.pattayaone.net

2010-1-11

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[webfact]

Russian swimmer killed in Pattaya

By The Nation

Chon Buri - A Russian tourist is missing and another has been cut in half after being hit by a speedboat's propellers off Pattaya coast Monday afternoon, police said.

Police said two scuba diving tourists were hit by the propellers of a twoengined speedboat near Koh Larn, about 300 metres off Pattaya's coast in Bang Lamung district, at 2pm.

One victim, later identified as 40yearold Poliakov Oleg, was cut in half and a companion, whose name has not been released, is missing.

Police said Oleg was visiting Koh Larn along with four family members and friends. He had been swimming in the scuba diving zone but resurfaced as the speedboat passed by and was struck by the propellers.

Police arrested boat driver Ritthirong Phanla, 47, who said he was transporting ten tourists from Koh Larn to Pattaya Beach's Hard Rock Cafe plaza when the Russians swimmers suddenly resurfaced and he wasn't able to stop.

Police initially charged Ritthirong with reckless driving, checked if he had a legal licence and submitted him to tests for drug abuse and alcohol level, said Provincial Police Region 2 deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Suwira Songmetta.

-- The Nation 2010-01-11

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[moodysufc]

I had the radio on and the 14.00 news was telling me that the maritime authority's had visited Pattaya and were pleased with what changes had taken place since the accidents recently and at the same time this happens.

Would be nice to see if the changes included lower speed limits around the beaches even inside the boats lanes

[astral]

Horrifying. Wonder if they were diving as part of an organised group and if the spot was marked?

My thought too..........

[Tywais]

Another off topic post deleted. No further announcements will be made and off topic posts will be summarily removed.

[Morpheus66]

But how do they know they were Russians as they are not identified yet...?

The accident is an absolute trajedy!

I regularly sail in Pattaya waters, and over the last ten years the boat traffic has increased, whilst the helmsmans knowledge of the laws of the sea are almost non-existent. They seem to think that the larger/faster the boat the more "right of way" they have. There have been a number of close calls with our sailing boats and the tourist speedboats.

Similar to the adherence to road traffic laws in the Kingdom, this situation will not improve and will only get worse.

Fears that this bad news will affect tourism in the Kingdom are unlikely to materialize. The tourists still keep coming despite the bad news. The world is a huge tourist market to tap, and it appears there will always be tourists from the low budget mass sector of the market whether it is Chinese or Russian tourists or single blokes from Europe or the States.