Jet-Ski Smash Turns Phuket Honeymoon Into Tragedy

[lee68]

Sad to be sure... May the young couple rest in peace...

But more important, who will pay the damages for the jet ski and loss of use while it is being repaired?

yes the scumbag operators will be gutted,but im sure they will get something back.scum

[Grey11]

Sad, sad poor hapless soul you are.

You miss the entire reason for the news and newspapers these days.

Tell me, what do you always see when you are watching the news, something that is much more important these days to what the news is about?

What is always very prominently placed within the camera view of the person reading the news??

Product placement and advertising, that's what. The news and most of television and printed material is there just for the advertising they can sell. And let me tell you, they have tried to do the enlightening shows and for the most part they simply don't win the ratings game. Sensationalism is all the game when you want to sell advertising space, just look at the amount of tabloids available, and then take a look at the advertising.

Do you really think that the cost of a newspaper or news program covers the cost of producing it, writing the stories, delivering it to the consumer? Surely not.

So sad as it is, we will always have a diet of sensationalist views because we are happy to pick up a cheap newspaper, or watch a free news show, and we pay for it by seeing or watching the adds.

Excellent. I have a degree in Journalism and advertising pays 80% of the cost of printing a newspaper or magazine. Through the years newspapers especially have printed - along with photos (more expensive than print naturally) - of feel good (happy) stories of people overcoming adversity, doing great deeds for the community, etc. The vast majority of people have little interest in these kinds of stories. They prefer the excitement of the reporting on robberies, rapes, murders, etc. The photos are more exciting and eye-catching. The paper doesn't sell, there's no advertising. There is no advertising, there is no paper. So newspapers are in the business of selling what people want to read - what gets their attention - and those tend to be the most morbid of events. There is room for "feel good" stories but they are mostly fill-ins. Employees need to be paid and advertising pays their salaries. And, if a reporter writes a derogatory story on an advertiser - the paper will lose that account. Of course that will not get by the Editor so the corruption inside one of the advertisers businesses cannot be investigated. That is what happens in every country in the world. The advertisers actually own the (successful) media outlets. Pay of the police, pay off the politicians, and do as you like if you are a corporation. Who will expose or punish you?

[Grey11]

Very very tragic, condolences, R.I.P.

Can something good come out of that?

Only if more people realize that Thailand is an unregulated, wild country that can be dangerous for them if they don't exercise self-control beyond the level they are accustomed to in their homelands. Western countries especially are mostly "nanny-states" with government introduced safety legislation aiming at protecting their citizens. This is good for some and bad for the others, who are able to self-control at higher than average levels. Those safety nets don't exist in Thailand. There is little point in arguing to introduce them here since neither Thai public or government are ready for that. One can only take Thailand for what it is and watch out while on holidays or don't come here.

I agree 100%. One of the best posts yet. Western countries are "nanny states" and the government are much more specialists at stealing your money than is Thailand, even Cambodia or Laos. If you want rule regulating your every move, stay in the West, don't come to Thailand.

[golferchin76]

It is entirely correct to report them as tourists are involved & this is a farang forum. Yes, they should be banned - if Hua Hin can do it, so can Phuket & Pattaya. It's just like giving the car keys to a person who has no idea how to drive a car with predictable results. Not only are jet skis a danger to the users, they are a danger to swimmers, snorkelers, windsurfers & small sail boat sailors.

This is NOT sensational & is is negative because 2 people died. A bit of sympathy instead of a rant would be more appropriate. My sympathy goes to the families of the victims

Jet skies are banned in Hua Hin probably the King lives there?

Jet skies are very powerful motors, even experienced get surprised and hurt riding them at speed. It is like riding motorcross bikes.

However, deaths and severe injuries from riding jet skies are extremely rare. If they are banned because of an unfortunate accident, the beaches will be a lot less attractive to tourists.

I think authorities (if they care) can device ways to make the experience safer.

1. let it operate at a certain part of the beach. rental owner can radio cut off the engine if a rider violates or riding too recklessly, just like go-karts.

2. jet ski engines can easily be detuned if there's such need.

3. jet ski owners must provide users (tourists) 'real' protective gears. Helmet, body armors, etc.

4. mandatory short 1 to 1 or 1 to 2 training sessions (jet ski can carry up to 3 people). The goal is to show how dangerous this thing can be, for example hit a wave in the wrong way and you would fly. Show them photos of injuries if need be. Then, let the users sign a death paper, let them feel the seriousness of this thing.

5. other things you can think to make this sport safer for tourists and others who use the beaches. Nearly 30% of beach going tourists tried this water sport 1st time in their life and had fun, because no such thing available for rental in their countries.

Deaths of that 'honey moon' couple are very very sad. They were not suppose to die (I doubt they are riding very fast) but bad thing still happened to them.

I dive a lot. Although it is a sport that requires training and license, deaths and severe injuries from diving are not unheard of.

I also race in motorcycle and touring car events locally, injuries are often especially on motorcycles. Some motorcycle riders, died, on the street.

There are things we can do to make sports safer, but injuries and even deaths will always happen. To ban it, there will be other sports to replace it, then same thing will happen.

[stevenl]

However, deaths and severe injuries from riding jet skies are extremely rare. If they are banned because of an unfortunate accident, the beaches will be a lot less attractive to tourists.

You really think even one tourist won't come because there is no jet skiing?

IMO they should be regulated: only certain areas of the beaches, no scamming. But that will never happen, a total ban is also very unlikely, but still more probable.

[newermonkey]

Seems to me most farangs on this board are in favor of no law, no restrictions and a fear of a nanny state emerging in Thailand.

OK here are some great ideas I am sure you freedom posters will love:

1) Introduce "trail bikes" on the beaches, riders can belt around the back and around deck chairs, do wheelies over the kids sand castles and play games of chicken, riders can even do doghnuts around people walking on the sand.

2) "Beach parking" reverse your car right up to your umberella area, you dont need to even get out of the vehicle, just open the widows rev-up the engine to get the air blowing real kool and turn up the 2000 watt sound system.

3) "Karaoke beach parties" 4000 watt sound systems hired out to groups of drunk karaokists right on the edge of the beach so you can float in the water with your waterproof radio mic. Prizes for the most un-human sounds a human can make, extra points for screeching, whaling, gurgling and growls.

4) "Beach Cooking parties" - make a big hole in the sand, lay in a couple of old car tires, big chunks of wood, some discarded garments dose it with 20 liters of motor oil mixed with 5 liters of 91 gasohol (we want to be green here) construct a cage made from construction site rebar. Everyone on the beach then has a convenient fire for cooking whole pigs, nice big rats that can be from earlier hunting parties etc, A real good free for all open kitchen.

5) Open "sex parties" on the beach and in the water. We'll invite all the girls & boys from the bars, the pedos, the swingers. (this will be especially funfull if done near a school or temple).

There are no ristrictions because this is a free country without law as some posters insist, so all the above will be no problem at all and no one will complain or get arrested, Right?

[saintofsilence]

However, deaths and severe injuries from riding jet skies are extremely rare. If they are banned because of an unfortunate accident, the beaches will be a lot less attractive to tourists.

You really think even one tourist won't come because there is no jet skiing?

IMO they should be regulated: only certain areas of the beaches, no scamming. But that will never happen, a total ban is also very unlikely, but still more probable.

Tourists don't come for jet ski's they are conned on the beach and given prices so low they think it is a bargain so they hire a ski and then they are scammed for thousands for no damage or very little

I am only talking about Pattaya because I have seen it dozens of times with my own eyes.

I am sure most tourists would prefer to spend there money on something else but these scammers don't care , even if the family renting the ski's have very little money and their holiday has been completely ruined the scammers don't care .

[vanfan39]

R.I.P What else can you say. god bless them and there families...very very sad

[atyclb]

Ugly & useless things. Can't they be banned?

In the hands of beach rescue people jet skis have saved many lives and helped many swimmers, surfers, etc.

Jet skis are also a key element for tow in surfing.

Sadly they are the recent choice for tourist scammers.

[Arkady]

Many people die on jet skis every year. Please ban these noisy and dangerous machines that also encourage scams that are well publicised on the Internet and discourage many people from visiting Thailand. They must overall subtract value from the Thai tourism industry.

[saintofsilence]

R.I.P What else can you say. god bless them and there families...very very sad

Indeed very sad to see this happen sadly it won't be the last , There have been two other people killed in Pattaya recently one accident was hapenned in low visibility as it was late , they rent them out with low visibility quite often in Pattaya .

[crusty]

Driving a jetski is is not a sport for everybody. You need some basic

skills to operate a PWC not jetski as it is called in this thread. If you

do not know how to operate a speedboat, you have nothing to do on a

PWC. You have to be able to read the sea and the waves, to adjust

the speed to get a smoth ride. Sometimes it can be better to go faster

just to avoid the danger of digging into arough wave. In other words:

If the significant wave hight is 2 meter you can get a better and more

confortable ride in 30 knots rather than 20, because you are crruising

on the wavetops instead of diving into the boittom of every wave. You

also need som skills aboat hoiw to use the throttle to avoid hard landings

after a take off. This is not a recomended sport for newbies ! Renting out

a PWC to people without boating experience should be banned. It is crazy.

I have experience with speeds up to 70 knots, and I have been out in the

deep blue for more than 35 years,. I know what I am talking about.

I am a naval instructor and I got a boat driving licence in 1981. MY

ADVICE STOP THE MADNESS !

Jet ski a sport ? C'mon what finesse do you need to twist a throttle ? SAILING is a sport, using the forces of nature and your own ability to get out and come back in strong winds or no winds...

R.I.P. the couple who had no idea of the forces beneath them

[sirchai]

well they will never be banned, if anything they will prosper. This accident was not the fault of the jet ski but the operator.

R.I.P very sad.

A very sad tagic accident. RIP, let's hope they can stay together where they're now......:jap:

[koto]

Finally someone here's telling something decent !

I totally agree with you !

:jap:

A tragic accident for a young couple at the peak of their lives. I trust they are in a better place and it is good they didn't hurt / kill anyone else.

Trust there in a better place! Please tell me where you got that information and who was it that you trust?

For the rest of you, Thailand is a country based on Buddhism which says death is part of life. It is sad that they died, but it doesn't become your responsibility to make everyone else live as long as possible. Thailand is one of the few places that is free enough to allow me to go rent a jet ski and put my own life at risk if I so choose.

When I first came to Thailand I stayed in a hotel in Bangkok, on the twenty something floor and my window fully opened with no screen to the concrete pavement far below. I was astonished and told my Thai friend, "You would never see this in America, someone would fall out and sue the hotel." Their reply, "Here in Thailand we think if you're dumb enough to fall out it's your own fault.".... I smiled and thought, "I'm going to like this place."

I believe its called natural selection?

When will we let people be accountable for their own actions? This couple was warned not to do it, told that it is dangerous and a lot of accidents occurred. They continued to ride when the rain made it hard to see... It was their choice to get on the Jet Ski. I for one love Thailand because people are free to make these decisions for themselves. I have rented jet skis several times. Once I ended up with 12 stitches in my foot, another time I had a 2nd degree sprain in my wrist. Two very fun days that I wouldn't change if I could. It was my fault, and I went back and rode them again. If I go kill myself on one, it shouldn't stop someone else who is more responsible than me from doing what they want.

361 people died during the Songkran holiday,

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/175108/

Shouldn't we first ban Songkran so we can save more lives?

30 - 40 people die each DAY in Thailand on motorbikes

http://voyagner.com/renting-a-motorbike-in-thailand/

I guess we should ban those too.

more than 300 people died on a bridge in Cambodia... Let's ban bridges!

How about this, we just make everyone stay home in bed all day everyday. Not allowed to leave the house except to get some food. We could ban sharp objects and put soft padding on the walls. Surely that would be the safest thing we could do and everyone can just live forever.

I'm all for restricted zones, DUI laws, education and other things that keep you safe from other idoits, but I can't stand people trying to protect me from myself!

Final Thought... If the laws, regulations, policies or beaches in your home country make it so much better than Thailand, GO BACK.

[fred007]

Ugly & useless things. Can't they be banned?

I disagree just because the jet o opperators give no instruction regarding the use of the jet ski just worry about if you damage the machine and try to screw you for every dollar they can

I have owned several Yamaha Wave Runners and raced one in Australia.They are great fun in the right hands

I get Sick and Tired the Bad Rap .......Jets Skis Are Given ..........A Car A Motor Bike what ever in the wrong hands is a weapon.......

[dude007]

Ugly & useless things. Can't they be banned?

Never they will. Remember the scams (which are on-going relentlessly): too much money involved in the jet-ski business and the police... Another set-back for the Phuket tourism. They should rent-out the tuk-tuk cars also... perhaps more money involved and that would be the top of the climax with this dirty mafia-tuk-tuk!

Edited December 2, 2010 by dude007

[grumpyoldman]

terrible, in Thailand jet skis appear to be cursed, something to be avoided along with the scam as described in another post

Shame Thailand your tourist will soon be depleted and people will stop coming to your country on holidays as they will get sick of being scammed by thai people who are dishonest and trying to rip of the tourist with jet ski scams trying to keep there deposit.

Your police department is an absolute joke these operators should be stopped from doing business and this needs to happen ASAP as there are many good people in Thailand and these type of people should be exterminated from operating businesses.

I am so sorry for this couple that had this accident but I am commenting on a previous post about the young Irish tourist in Pattaya that were scammed vfor 18 thousand baht for damage to a jet ski that they did not do and when they said they would not pay the operator pulled a knife on him.

SHAME SHAME SHAME THAILAND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE NO TOURIST LEFT SOON.

The authority's in Thailand need to exterminate these pests out of the industry.

Tiger4 a tad overboard, pardon the pun, but where I do agree is the element that scams people out of money in false pretenses.

Some family friend's kids had the same happen to them 2 years ago in Patong, 36,000thb later the thugs who had surrounded one guy, in the face of a beating the women had to go get the money.

Absolutely right that in order to rent one you have to show a license. New industry for Ao Chalong. "Sure you can rent this jetski but first my brother Somchai is going to ride you to Ao Chalong (200thb) then take a lesson (1000thb) get your license, and come back and pay 800thb for half an hour".

Bye Bye Jetskiis..........

[OzMick]

It is entirely correct to report them as tourists are involved & this is a farang forum. Yes, they should be banned - if Hua Hin can do it, so can Phuket & Pattaya. It's just like giving the car keys to a person who has no idea how to drive a car with predictable results. Not only are jet skis a danger to the users, they are a danger to swimmers, snorkelers, windsurfers & small sail boat sailors.

This is NOT sensational & is is negative because 2 people died. A bit of sympathy instead of a rant would be more appropriate. My sympathy goes to the families of the victims

Motorbikes are much more dangerous than jet skis. Hundreds more die riding motorbikes, many farangs for the first time. Should motorbikes be banned? Where does banning things some people don't like or feel to dangerous stop? Too many rules. Too much government control. Many farangs do not like jet ski operators. But, renting jet skis creates jobs. Thailand, like every other sinking country in this world - other than India & Communist China - needs jobs. Want more crime? Take jobs away from people in Thailand or anywhere else. How will they survive? A good idea is that all the farangs who want jet skis banned can buy food for the families of the jet ski operators they fire when they help the government ban the industry.

"Motorbikes are much more dangerous than jet skis." I can't agree. Consider how many users ride bikes for how many hours each day - it is a huge number. Compare that to user-hours of jet skis - a pitifully small number in comparison. Now compare deaths per user-hour. i think bikes will come out looking pretty good, There is another factor - nearly every motorcycle related death is of a user, who makes his/her own decision to get on the thing. A large proportion of jet ski deaths are innocent bystanders killed by someone else's desire for a cheap (and nasty) thrill.

There is also the question of functionality. Motorcycles are providing near-essential service to millions, while jet skis are providing, in most usage, entertainment to the brain-dead while annoying a much larger number.

[brahmburgers]

Sad indeed.

Sad to be sure... May the young couple rest in peace...

But more important, who will pay the damages for the jet ski and loss of use while it is being repaired?

Right, I thought of that. Whatever new bump or scratch on the jetski will likely come back to haunt the next 30 farang who rent it - each one being extorted (and screamed at) to pay 50,000 baht to fix it (possibly haggled down to 30,000 baht) - with a do-nothing policeman hanging nearby for added dramatic effect.

on a related note: if this were a snow covered area, then the same arguments would be targeted at snowmobiles - which are also noisy, smog belching and dangerous.

Suggestion: Have the Phuket and Pattaya people hold a series of town hall meetings - to bandy around ideas about other recreational options. Options which are less noisy, less polluting, less dangerous. For example, how many miniature golf courses are there in those beach resorts? I honestly don't know. Are there any climbing gyms, hot air balloon rides, frisbee golf courses, skateboard/in-line skate parks? For that matter, how many Km of motorcycle-free bicycle/jogging lanes are there? (my guess is about the same number as there are in Bangkok, in other words; ZERO).

We don't expect Thais to be at the vanguard of innovative recreational activities, but they're such good copiers, perhaps they can research other recreational venues - and implement them in their touristy places. Jetskis are yuksville - the sooner they close down, the better.

Edited December 2, 2010 by brahmburgers

[CraXeliCroX®]

Tragic. May they rest in peace

Sad story,

these Jetskies cost more suffering as fun, they are dam_n noisy and anoying for every tourist who is searching a quiet beach. When this things get banned from public beaches?

May they rest in peace

Patong Beach never was a quiet beach. People who knows Phuket, knows this.

There are probably 500 other beaches in Thailand that are more quiet than Patong Beach. I am pretty sure that the Chinese couple didn't go there, searching for a quiet spot but because they heard that Patong Beach was where the action was.

And yes - may they rest in peace, I am sure they have found a quiet place now.

[asiawatcher]

terrible, in Thailand jet skis appear to be cursed, something to be avoided along with the scam as described in another post

Yes, cursed by a media and readers that pounce on tragedy and fear-based news. Granted this is sad news, but the fact is that thousands of people are killed in accidents around the world every day. What can we do? Ban jetSkis? That's not the problem -- the issue is careless, adventure-seeing risk-takers. Why does the news feel it has to report all of them?

Also every day *tens of thousands* of babies are born to ecstatic parents, thousands of medical "miracle" recoveries occur, numerous long-time friends are re-united, get new jobs, publish a book, invent a new cure, etc. Millions go about their lives every day working peacefully for good ends at charities, non-profits, and spiritual groups for the betterment of humans and the planet. Worst case, billions of people have a normal day. Does anyone ever stop to consider the relative weight which is given and perceived by the prominent promotion of freak, horrific incidents?

Where is all the reporting on the positive, optimistic, and inspiring good news in the world? It is out there for sure, but it seems most sites and newspapers like this are addicted to sensationalistic negativism.

Wow - glad you got that off your chest! And your point is????

[Old Croc]

I took this picture a week before the jetski accident. The ship on the right,"Legend of The Seas", had returned and was anchored in the same area.

I'm fairly certain the catamaran in the bottom centre of my pic is the one the jetski ran into.

The weather was completely different.

[evanson]

Tragic. May they rest in peace

Sad story,

these Jetskies cost more suffering as fun, they are dam_n noisy and anoying for every tourist who is searching a quiet beach. When this things get banned from public beaches?

May they rest in peace

Absolutely. And in actual fact they ARE illegal. Same as prostitution is.

And all these RIP's. You don't have a nice long (eternity :-S?) lie in, you simply return to the source from which you came. Do keep up.

[evanson]

terrible, in Thailand jet skis appear to be cursed, something to be avoided along with the scam as described in another post

Yes, cursed by a media and readers that pounce on tragedy and fear-based news. Granted this is sad news, but the fact is that thousands of people are killed in accidents around the world every day. What can we do? Ban jetSkis? That's not the problem -- the issue is careless, adventure-seeing risk-takers. Why does the news feel it has to report all of them?

Also every day *tens of thousands* of babies are born to ecstatic parents, thousands of medical "miracle" recoveries occur, numerous long-time friends are re-united, get new jobs, publish a book, invent a new cure, etc. Millions go about their lives every day working peacefully for good ends at charities, non-profits, and spiritual groups for the betterment of humans and the planet. Worst case, billions of people have a normal day. Does anyone ever stop to consider the relative weight which is given and perceived by the prominent promotion of freak, horrific incidents?

Where is all the reporting on the positive, optimistic, and inspiring good news in the world? It is out there for sure, but it seems most sites and newspapers like this are addicted to sensationalistic negativism.

Wow - glad you got that off your chest! And your point is????

Chua's point is ... KEEP PERSPECTIVE.

[housepainter]

There's also a contradiction between what the poor woman says' I'm too ill to go walkabout' but actually does - rides the waves on a jet ski.

However, I liken jet skis to waterborne motorbikes; dangerously fast in the wrong hands. Imagine that same woman suddenly opening the throttle on a motorbike and hurtling along until it impacts with a solid stationary object.

I agree that jet skis should be banned as it is not possible to have safety measures applied in Thailand. Nothing would be accepted other than money as a means to ride one. Thais aren't interested in anything other than making money from their hire and hang any consequnces as unfortunate as someone dying.

This is a most tragic example.

Finally, if the precedent is set then it should be applied elsewhere. There is no place for jet skis in Thailand.

[tropo]

Jet ski a sport ? ? C'mon what finesse do you need to twist a throttle? SAILING is a sport, using the forces of nature and your own ability to get out and come back in strong winds or no winds...

R.I.P. the couple who had no idea of the forces beneath them

Yes, riding jetskis is a sport. There's actually a lot of strength, balance and finesse required to ride/race them.

It's misconceptions like yours - "C'mon what finesse do you need to twist a throtte" - which leads inexperienced people to grief.

Edited December 3, 2010 by tropo

[katabeachbum]

Tragic. May they rest in peace

Sad story,

these Jetskies cost more suffering as fun, they are dam_n noisy and anoying for every tourist who is searching a quiet beach. When this things get banned from public beaches?

May they rest in peace

Absolutely. And in actual fact they ARE illegal. Same as prostitution is.

And all these RIP's. You don't have a nice long (eternity :-S?) lie in, you simply return to the source from which you came. Do keep up.

Jet skis can be legally registered and used in Phuket as in the rest of Thailand.

Someone posted jetskies are illegal in Hua Hin. They are not. However a zoning of the beaches is enforced, and the beach and sea outside Kings Residence is illegal for any vessel, vehicle or walking.

[BlackJack]

jet ski's are also dangerous on the roads

here in Pattaya they often have them all strung together possible 3-5 of them and towed by a motor bike

there is no way they can break without causing and accident

there is no way they can turn on the right side of the road

they often block the roads and cars need to cross double yellow lines to get past them

they often clog the roads each morning while waiting to get lowered into the sea

PLEASE BAN THEM

ps they pollute the water too

[Tanlic]

Tragic when something like this happens but ban jet skis?

Hardly a country in the world that doesn't have them and they supply huge entertainmant to millions every year.

No one likes to see this type of thing happen least of all the people who rented the jet ski to this poor couple.

Thais find Jet Ski's exceptionally easy to handle as most can drive a motorcycle by the time they are 12 years old.

So I imagine they must be scratching there heads wondering how on earth this could happen.

Very sad, very tragic, but a rare accident that should not be used as a reason to deprive other people from having fun

or lead to renters losing their livelyhood

[crusty]

Sad to be sure... May the young couple rest in peace...

But more important, who will pay the damages for the jet ski and loss of use while it is being repaired?

Well I heard the catamaran had quite a lot of damage plus the jetski guys want the owner to pay for the jetski damage too ! dduuuuuhhhh !