Dangerous Speedboats Kata Beach

[MRS6811]

I'm a British tourist. Yesterday I was swimming at Kata Beach when I was nearly runover by one of the powerboats (I think its the parasail one).

When I shouted at the driver he then manoeuvered his boat between me and the shore and proceeded to try and whip me with a coil of rope....!!!

I attempted to report the incident to the police, but they seemed uninterested, they even sniggered. They told me that if I wanted to make someting of it I would have to travel police station in Chulong to file a report.

Has any other eaders had similar experiences? I am told a Russian tourist was hurt by one of these boats only last week. Is this true?

[craigt3365]

As this is a bit more Phuket related, I'm going to move this thread over there. FYI...same thing happens here in Pattaya and yes, there have been accidents and fatalities with boats and jet skis. Be careful for sure!

Topic Moved.

[steelepulse]

>>Has any other eaders had similar experiences? I am told a Russian tourist was hurt by one of these boats only last week. Is this true?

Yes it is true. Numerous reports about this happening. These power boat guys are right there with the tuk tuk drivers and jet ski clowns.They are (virtually) above the law and they act like it.

[Ping]

I'd suggest that the OP writes/emails the editor at the Phuket Gazette - this is significant support for the need for something to be done.

[Jimi007]

A Russian was hit by one just the other week:

And this article by the Phuket Gazette:

So. it's know about, but as usual no one will do anything about it.

[TheWalkingMan]

A Russian was hit by one just the other week:

And this article by the Phuket Gazette:

So. it's know about, but as usual no one will do anything about it.

Yep and somewhere in the news reports it says that the police told the Russian that he should bring the driver of the boat to the police station. Basically gave the victim the bird and told him to move on.

[stevenl]

Yep and somewhere in the news reports it says that the police told the Russian that he should bring the driver of the boat to the police station.

Where did you see that?

[KImoLolo]

The boats are not dangerous, its the operators! The a kin to the jet ski Mafia!

[Jimi007]

Yep and somewhere in the news reports it says that the police told the Russian that he should bring the driver of the boat to the police station.

Where did you see that?

In the news source we aren't allowed to mention on here.

[TheWalkingMan]

Yep and somewhere in the news reports it says that the police told the Russian that he should bring the driver of the boat to the police station.

Where did you see that?

It came across in the news of the Phuket website does not allow links here...

I will pm you the link.

[HongKongPhooey]

Were any of the recent victims swimming INSIDE the roped off designated swimming area?

Whenever I swim outside of the roped of area I believe the onus is completely on me to stay away from boats and if I got hit by one I wouldn't feel I had a case to argue.

That doesn't of course excuse the behaviour and the attitude of the boat drivers and police after the event. More sympathy and concern should have been shown, but I'm afraid that the blame has to be at the hands of the swimmers swimming outside of the safe marked out areas in my opinion.

[pagallim]

Were any of the recent victims swimming INSIDE the roped off designated swimming area?

Whenever I swim outside of the roped of area I believe the onus is completely on me to stay away from boats and if I got hit by one I wouldn't feel I had a case to argue.

That doesn't of course excuse the behaviour and the attitude of the boat drivers and police after the event. More sympathy and concern should have been shown, but I'm afraid that the blame has to be at the hands of the swimmers swimming outside of the safe marked out areas in my opinion.

Does Kata actually have a roped off area? Although I have a small boat, the last places that I'd wish to go would be the west coast resorts. Some of the islands have roped off areas but I can't remember ever seeing the same at Kata/Karon etc.

[stevenl]

No roped off area there.

While swimming there I'm always on the look out for jetski's and speedboats.

Thanks for the link guys. Unfortunately this is second hand, IMO unreliable information. Could still be true though.

[LivinginKata]

Does Kata actually have a roped off area? Although I have a small boat, the last places that I'd wish to go would be the west coast resorts. Some of the islands have roped off areas but I can't remember ever seeing the same at Kata/Karon etc.

No roped off areas this year. In previous years there have been at least 2 buoyed off areas for swimmers. Accident just waiting to happen.

[HongKongPhooey]

Does Kata actually have a roped off area? Although I have a small boat, the last places that I'd wish to go would be the west coast resorts. Some of the islands have roped off areas but I can't remember ever seeing the same at Kata/Karon etc.

No roped off areas this year. In previous years there have been at least 2 buoyed off areas for swimmers. Accident just waiting to happen.

I'm extremely surprised by that. I thought that all the beaches had roped off areas. I don't go to Kata or Karon very often but all the beaches I use have roped off areas so I assumed they all would.

I beg the OP's pardon. It's pretty hard to swim in a marked off area that isn't marked off!

[Jimi007]

No roped off area there.

While swimming there I'm always on the look out for jetski's and speedboats.

Thanks for the link guys. Unfortunately this is second hand, IMO unreliable information. Could still be true though.

From my few dealings with the Chalong police it sounds about right. I remember calling them about four years ago when a friend had a problem with a motorbike accident and was chased by a gang of youths. I called the Chalong police at about 11 PM. They said they were closed for the night! Or how about when the driver from Kok Chang Safari went to pick up some people at a resort for a elephant trek and the driver was assaulted and windshield broken by the local taxi mob. The Kathu police staid they would send a letter to the drivers to come in to the police station for a talk. Well, the Chalong police wouldn't even do that, it sounds like. To be fair though, I did have a motorbike stolen from my house several years ago. I went to the Chalong police with the green book, my passport, lease of my house and a photo of the guy who stole it and filed a report. Within a few hours they had my motorbike back and the guy in hand cuffs. The rest of both of my stories gets better, plus I know the driver and owner of the Kok Chang incident. So, all first hand stories and I have at least one more, but I'm not going to post them on a public forum...

[steelepulse]

>>No roped off areas this year. In previous years there have been at least 2 buoyed off areas for swimmers. Accident just waiting to happen.

Unfortunately true for whatever reason, but seriously why would a speedboat driver be so close to shore and not caring about those that are swimming?

[Jimi007]

>>No roped off areas this year. In previous years there have been at least 2 buoyed off areas for swimmers. Accident just waiting to happen.

Unfortunately true for whatever reason, but seriously why would a speedboat driver be so close to shore and not caring about those that are swimming?

Because he is running a business to make money. The stupid tourists should watch for him, in his way of thinking and I can see his viewpoint. Actually it is much easier for a person to stay clear of a boat then a boat to stay clear of a person in the water. Have you ever driven a boat? No brakes, only an engine which must have a prop in the water and have some momentum to even steer... I am not saying they are in the right, but unless they have a roped off area for their use or are banned, I don't see much they can really do.

Edited December 15, 2011 by Jimi007

[grumpyoldman]

>>No roped off areas this year. In previous years there have been at least 2 buoyed off areas for swimmers. Accident just waiting to happen.

Unfortunately true for whatever reason, but seriously why would a speedboat driver be so close to shore and not caring about those that are swimming?

Because he is running a business to make money. The stupid tourists should watch for him, in his way of thinking and I can see his viewpoint. Actually it is much easier for a person to stay clear of a boat then a boat to stay clear of a person in the water. Have you ever driven a boat? No brakes, only an engine which must have a prop in the water and have some momentum to even steer... I am not saying they are in the right, but unless they have a roped off area for their use or are banned, I don't see much they can really do.

I did notice the other day they have roped off an area in front of Kata Beach Resort. A big square with the buoys. I think there is also a rope with buoys going straight out from the lifegurad tower a little ways down the beach. So someone has taken notice of the problem.

[autan]

There have been 3 occasions in my whole life that have been actually life threatening.

1. In 1996, on Saturday afternoon, I was injured by flying glass, when the IRA (Irish Republican Army) detonated a bomb in the City Centre of Manchester, I still have a scar on my forehead and believe I was lucky.

2. In 2004, Christmas Day, I caught a flight from Phuket ( see below), to BKK and on to Chiang Mai. The day before the Tsuanai hit.

3. On Christmas Eve 2004, I came within 12 feet or less of the rotary blade of speedboat which was driven my a Thai Man, who thought it was amusing to trying remove my head from my shoulders with the speedboat rotar while I was caught in some pretty unpleasant currents on kata beach. This incident ruined my holiday and I left 3 days early. The day after I left early, my hotel was you know the rest.

[LivinginKata]

Just yesterday they buoyed off a large area for swimmers in front of Club Med.

[TigerWan]

>>No roped off areas this year. In previous years there have been at least 2 buoyed off areas for swimmers. Accident just waiting to happen.

Unfortunately true for whatever reason, but seriously why would a speedboat driver be so close to shore and not caring about those that are swimming?

( Are you feigning innocence or really don't know? ) Because he's Thai and macho posturing and making money matters more than anything else in the world, even the safety and lives of others. While there are laws that would protect swimmers and others from this ingrained greed, those who should enforce laws are also greedy and selfish. This is Thailand.

Edited December 26, 2011 by TigerWan

[Jimi007]

>>No roped off areas this year. In previous years there have been at least 2 buoyed off areas for swimmers. Accident just waiting to happen.

Unfortunately true for whatever reason, but seriously why would a speedboat driver be so close to shore and not caring about those that are swimming?

( Are you feigning innocence or really don't know? ) Because he's Thai and macho posturing and making money matters more than anything else in the world, even the safety and lives of others. While there are laws that would protect swimmers and others from this ingrained greed, those who should enforce laws are also greedy and selfish. This is Thailand.

I think I pretty much said that in post #18, but what laws are you referring to? Just curious.

[petercallen]

Jet Skis and power boats allowed to operate on swimming beaches

IS this just a Asian thing i have not seen it in other countries i have visited

not in Asia

[steelepulse]

>>No roped off areas this year. In previous years there have been at least 2 buoyed off areas for swimmers. Accident just waiting to happen.

Unfortunately true for whatever reason, but seriously why would a speedboat driver be so close to shore and not caring about those that are swimming?

( Are you feigning innocence or really don't know? ) Because he's Thai and macho posturing and making money matters more than anything else in the world, even the safety and lives of others. While there are laws that would protect swimmers and others from this ingrained greed, those who should enforce laws are also greedy and selfish. This is Thailand.

I think I pretty much said that in post #18, but what laws are you referring to? Just curious.

I obviously should have put smiley faces in my post as it was both a rhetorical question and facetious post. Of course the speed boat drivers don't care about safety .

[Jimi007]

I think I pretty much said that in post #18, but what laws are you referring to? Just curious.

I obviously should have put smiley faces in my post as it was both a rhetorical question and facetious post. Of course the speed boat drivers don't care about safety .

Ah! Sorry, should have known... I guess I just wasn't in that frame of mind at the time!