Pattaya Mayor Offers Donation To Family Of Turkish Boating Accident Victim

[Rimmer]

Pattaya Mayor offers donation to family of Turkish boating accident victim

PATAYA: --On 5th December 2006, Mr. Ilhami Ozturk aged 36 from Turkey was involved in a boating accident off the coast of Pattaya and unfortunately lost his life after the boat had sunk. Since that time, the victim’s brother has been involved in legal proceedings against the owner of the boat and the boat driver who, he claims, were negligent as the boat contained a total of 18 people at the time of the accident, however only 13 life jackets were available for use. The operating license for the boat had expired and it was therefore uninsured. Mr. Alan Ozturk has been working with the Human Rights Commission and Thai Lawyers to bring the boat operator to justice and did win the case in court.

Full story is HERE

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2010-06-02

[sharecropper]

So all those generous businesses and people who (perhaps rashly) donated to this Emergency Tourist Assistance fund have ended up indemnifying a dodgy and culpable boat owner and relieving him of his legal obligations instead? Nice.

Maybe the boat mafia leaned hard on the Mayor's office, but the precedent is now set for people - foreigners - injured in Pattaya to claim big damages from negligent Thais, who, unable to pay, will have the possibility of getting City Hall to pay instead.

Right, where's the nearest City Hall-negligently repaired pothole.

[gotlost]

Wining and collecting are two different things in Thailand. Particularly when dealing with the mob.

[Basil B]

Nice gesture by the Mayor, but really 300,000 that is peanuts.

Why can he not do something more positive like enforce safety, checking the boats are operated safely and legally, could also check Hotels, Bars, Clubs and restaurants have sufficient marked fire escape routes which are not locked or obstructed during trading hours.

[shaunoro]

In an Ideal world yes Basil B.

But as life is cheap here and safety is low priority here in Thailand unfortunately.

Then would you want it to be as manic as it is in UK with every company having a health and safety officer.

That's when it becomes jobsworth.

[Trickcyclist]

A word to the wise!!

met an industrial accident specialist in large ship and rig recovery once in the W Indies where we and wives were both on holiday.

We were discussing local tourist trip options and he told me that when his wife suggested one trip versus another his response was always:

"Choose whatever you want, but NO BOATS!"

[Basil B]

Shaunoro...

I accept your comment to a degree, and now things has have got to a point where I have to were safety googlies that restrict my peripheral vision, have to were ear defenders that I can not hear anyone warn me of danger.

Yet, I have seen many bars where there is a lack of emergency egress, just suggest members should next time they are in a bar just think if some hot head tossed a "Molotov cocktail" into the bar entrance how they would get out, maybe bar owners/managers should also think, or as you pointed out life is cheep, B300,000 that in many cases would not cover the cost of repatriating ones mortal remains, if you keep pushing...

Do not forget the fire at the Royal Jomtien as it seems the Mayor and his cronies have with all the promises to improve safety