Australian Hurt In Jetski Accident

Australian hurt in jetski accident

November 27, 2005

A YOUNG Australian tourist is fighting for his life after being hit at speed by a jet ski ridden by his best friend, who has since been charged with negligently causing grievous bodily harm.

Antonio Scognamigli, 19, was knocked unconscious, and police say at one point his heart stopped beating after the accident, which happened at Patong Beach in southern Thailand.

After doctors at Patong Hospital managed to revive him, Antonio was rushed to Bangkok Hospital in Phuket for further treatment.

His friend, 20-year-old William Forest, also from Australia, has admitted responsibility for the accident, and after being treated for minor injuries he was released from Patong Hospital.

He was immediately arrested and charged with negligence causing grievous bodily harm, and if found guilty, he could face three years in jail or a fine of up to A$300, or both. He has been released on bail.

"We were just horsing around in the water when the accident happened," police quoted Forest as having said in a statement.

He told them he had been driving the jet ski at high speed when the machine he was driving struck Mr Scognamigli at 4pm last Wednesday.

In the 2003-04 high season, two tourists died in jet-ski accidents near the spot where this latest accident happened.

One was a 13-year-old German boy, whose mother later begged authorities to protect children and juveniles by enforcing jet-ski safety regulations.

Police said last night the municipality in Patong, a beach resort popular with Australian and New Zealand tourists, will now introduce restrictions on jet-ski operators on the coastline.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E1702,00.html

Duplicate topic.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=52082

Edited November 27, 200520 yr by cdnvic