Polish Woman Killed By Speed Boat Propellers At Jomtien Beach

[webfact]

Polish woman killed by speed boat propellers at Jomtien Beach

PATTAYA: -- A Polish tourist who was in Pattaya with her Husband, a prominent Doctor in his home country, died from her injuries after she was struck by propellers of a speed boat engine at Jomtien Beach on Friday morning.

Mrs. Wanda Horst Sikorska aged 57 and her husband were part of a luxury cruise tour group who had travelled down from Laem Chabang, where their Singapore Cruise Boat was docked, to spend a day at Jomtien Beach. The cruise left Singapore on an Asian tour with Cambodia being its next stop. The pair were due to return to Laem Chabang Port for 2pm on Friday when the boat was scheduled to leave.

Mrs. Sikorska reportedly went for a swim but was unaware that buoys were placed in the water which were meant to alert swimmers to the speed boat zone where swimming is not permitted.

Full story: http://www.pattayaon...-jomtien-beach/

-- Pattaya One 2013-01-12

[LaoPo]

What a tragic accident and a nightmare....

"The boat captain, Khun Mongkol aged 30, started his engine, seemingly unaware that Mrs. Sikorska was swimming being the boat. She was sucked under the water and onto the rotating blades and suffered catastrophic injuries"

Even if the speedboat was in a section where the buoys were, the captain of a speedboat ALWAYS has to be careful and look out if he can start those powerful engines and if anybody is near his boat.

And if he can't see properly, he should ask.

What a drama for her husband and family.

May she R.I.P.

Edited January 12, 2013 by LaoPo

[TommoPhysicist]

Swimming behind any power boat isn't the best of ideas.

[BookMan]

What an awful way to die.

[pavloh]

Very surprised this has not happened more often.

I have a condo down in Jomtien and there are No buoys placed and motor boats always very close to the shoreline where people swim.

[laurentbkk]

Another tragic accident which could be avoid with proper regulation ....... oh well maybe those regulation will come in the next 200 years .. that's what make the difference with a country who care and one who doesnt give a dam_n expect the money it can bring.

[Ohio]

Tragic

R I P

Another body to the New Year count that was unneccessary if Policing of Safety was actually a reality rather than perception

[fakename]

So there are hundreds of beach chairs, some that are even partly in the water, and people shouldnt swim there? Yeah there are marked swimming areas, but it would be better if there were marked BOAT areas. And calling someone that drives one of these boats "Captain" is ridiculous.

[LennyW]

Another tragic accident which could be avoid with proper regulation ....... oh well maybe those regulation will come in the next 200 years .. that's what make the difference with a country who care and one who doesnt give a dam_n expect the money it can bring.

There was proper regulation - marked off areas where swimming was not permitted - but sadly she was unaware of them.

[Rimmer]

Polish Medical Professor killed in Swimming Accident in Pattaya

PATTAYA:--Swimming in a clearly designated area for speed boats,Wanda Horst- Sikorska, one of Poland’s most eminent Professors of Medicine was struck by a boat propeller and has died from her injuries in Jontien .

The 57 Year old, a specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology and the head of the Department of Family Medicine and Bone Metabolism Laboratory at Poland’s University of Medical Sciences, had been a part of a group who traveled from Lam Chabaeng to the city.

Onlookers told reporters that despite the buoys which mark the drop off and departure area for boats which take tourist to the nearby Ko Larn Islands, she had swum without realizing she was in a dangerous area where bathing is prohibited.

Wanda Horst- Sikorska was cruising Asia with her husband when the liner docked in the nearby Lam Chabaeng Port and passengers visited the region before being due to depart for Cambodia that day.

In her home country she dealt with prevention and prevention of lifestyle diseases of social importance, including metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis.

Full story:http://www.pattaya103.com/polish-medical-professor-killed-swimming-thailand/

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[Emdog]

I beg to differ on the issue of "clearly marked areas where swimming is not permitted". I have lived near by to the scene for 8 years. I have NEVER seen any regulations regarding no swimming, nor any attempts by the umbrella renters to inform people not to swim there (might lose customers). The boat operators should have mimimal training (doubt if they do), the BIB might take a break from fining farangs to doing something useful (no money in that!), and they might go so far as to post some signs.

Blaming the woman for the boat drivers carelessness is like blaming a gunshot victim for being in the way of the bullet. I have never gone swimming in the waters of Jomtien, btw. Swimming in my toilet would be less hazardous, and fewer bacteria.

[cuddleypete]

Tragic Accident

May She R I P

[lucjoker]

Swimming behind any power boat isn't the best of ideas.

Swimming in the brown-chitty- water at Jomtien was her first mistake.

If you dont see that the water is dirty......maby you cant see there is a prop behind a boat?

[wade72]

Maybe the "No Swimming" signs are there, I have never seen them. I have regularly seen boats at very high speed come extremely close to swimmers.

So no idea what happened here other then what the report says and it is true no one should be swimming at the stern of a boat without being sure the person in charge is aware they are there, at anchor or not.

I am surprised however that this is the first time we have heard about this, as stated above, I have regularly seen jet skies, speed boats, etc. running extremely close to swimmers.

[crazykopite]

Regulations in Thailand are a joke they are used to suit incidents such as this there should be proper signage as well as flags in Europe spped boats were not allowed within 100 metres of shore but over here no one gives a dam look at the jet ski's they are the worst of the bunch R.I.P to yet another holiday maker who goes home in a casket very sad and sadly was avoidable had proper notices been displayed.

[wade72]

Regulations in Thailand are a joke they are used to suit incidents such as this there should be proper signage as well as flags in Europe spped boats were not allowed within 100 metres of shore but over here no one gives a dam look at the jet ski's they are the worst of the bunch R.I.P to yet another holiday maker who goes home in a casket very sad and sadly was avoidable had proper notices been displayed.

CK... I wouldn't say they are a joke, I would say they don't actually exist until something like this happens, then they are made up on the spot. Unfortunately after the media attention dies down they are left by the wayside until they need to say something to the newspaper again to cover their posteriors for the next incident.

[sandpaper]

RIP

Deepest condolences to her family

I know the guys operating jet skis do swim really close to swimmers, but the boat operators should be really careful in any area as well. Always look, better safe than sorry. And I do hope her tragic death became a lesson to them and changed even a tiny little bit in those people's view of life, so they would care a little bit more, not like "falang die, mai pen rai".

I may be wrong here, but there are way too many deaths lately, not just foreigners but the Thais too. Sorry for all the victims

[Rimmer]

Female Polish Tourist Killed By Jomtien Speedboat

PATTAYA:--A 57-year-old Polish wife of a doctor was killed after being slashed by the propellers of a speedboat while swimming at Jomtien Beach. The operator of 12-seat speedboat did not see the victim swimming. She was among a group of 1,500 tourists traveling on a cruise ship.

PATTAYA – January 11, 2013; at 11 a.m., a report of a foreign tourist being severely injured by a speedboat propeller was received by Pol. Lt. Col. Anuchet Kartsomboon, investigation officer, Pattaya police station, Dongtarn curve sub-branch. He rushed to the scene with a police team and an ambulance from Pattaya Memorial hospital.

The incident occurred at Jomtien beach, opposite to Soi 9 on Jomtien Beach Road. At the scene, officers found that bystanders had assisted to bring the injured woman to the shore.

She was identified as Mrs. Vanda Horst Sikorska, age 57, from Poland. She had been sliced by the propeller of the speed boat from her left ear to the neck, and on her left breast and her left arm. Her wounds were severe and bleeding heavily.

Mrs. Vanda was rushed to Pattaya Memorial hospital, where she died later. Her husband, also from Poland, was crying beside her body.

Full story:http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2013/01/12/female-polish-tourist-killed-by-jomtien-speedboat/

--PATTAYA DAILY NEWS 2013-01-12

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[laislica]

Swimming behind any power boat isn't the best of ideas.

Sure, now we know!!!

But does everybody already know?

On a trip to Malaysia in 2000, we swam near a speedboat, our own tour boat.

There were no warnings and happily, no accidents.

I've done the same in Greece years ago and it's all safe until someone starts the engines.

The Captain must take all necessary precautions before starting the engines.

RIP and my heartfelt condolences to her bereaved family.

[stiggy]

Tragic accident

A look behind your boat before starting the engines perhaps ?

[sunshine51]

In the posts so far everybody voices RIP's & Condolences to the family of the deceased

and says that the boat operators "should be really careful" plus swining behind a power

boat is stupid. I agree with all that save for the boat operators bit....sure they should be

more careful...but this is LOS and care goes right out the window/into the wind whenever

an "operator" gets behind any wheel, handlebars, stick...etc...etc of any vehicle...motirosed

or human powered...just something to bear in mind while out having fun y'all cause "they"

in reality, could care less about you.

Edited January 12, 2013 by sunshine51

[Maseratimartin]

Buoys to tell that swimming is not allowed on a tourist beach?

Bullshit!

It is the responsibility of a boat operator (cannot call the idiots a captain!) to check his suroundings before starting his engine or similar.

Build a harbor and keep them away from the tourists and beaches.

RIP ...another victim of careless THAILAND!

[TommyDee]

Obviously the family has my sympathy RIP. However i also feel something for the boat driver. the tail end of a speedboat/powerboat, tracks at about a metre above the waterline when it is standing still and only drops as it trims to the engine torque, then to nearly the waterline and finally below.

so the chances of him seeing the lady are minute. especially if she were snorkeling ( or swimming under the waterline).

Really its a tragedy for all parties concerned. I would imagine he will feel much the same as a train driver when someone jumps off a bridge.

[cobra]

Tragic, RIP

[Jingthing]

I'm confused about the buouys. Couldn't that look like a designated area FOR swimming rather than no swimming?

Anyway, RIP, she sounds like she was a good woman.

[InActionMan]

Very surprised this has not happened more often.

I have a condo down in Jomtien and there are No buoys placed and motor boats always very close to the shoreline where people swim.

Many years ago during a beach football competition a certain Eric Cantona hit a teenager on his jet ski and threatened to pull out of the tournament if too much was made of it. If I remember correctly the organisers said "go ahead". Like the big bikes available on Beach Rd anyone can have them if the folding stuff is available

[stiggy]

Obviously the family has my sympathy RIP. However i also feel something for the boat driver. the tail end of a speedboat/powerboat, tracks at about a metre above the waterline when it is standing still and only drops as it trims to the engine torque, then to nearly the waterline and finally below.

so the chances of him seeing the lady are minute. especially if she were snorkeling ( or swimming under the waterline).

Really its a tragedy for all parties concerned. I would imagine he will feel much the same as a train driver when someone jumps off a bridge.

The whole process to hydraulically lower the engine takes less than 30 secs to a minute normally, plus the engine will not be rotating props until engaged.

Any real boat license holder, knows to check before engaging the prop. If it was a larger vessel it would have a boat boy to check also at rear.

Not just for safety as to hit a prop on anything is damaging and costly anyhow.Any Thai boat captain I have worked with knows this procedure especially if people are around. Sorry but unless a freak accident ie she literally swam under murky water into the path of the prop. I can not see any other reason than laziness disregard or apathy being the reason the captain didn't check first.

[TommyDee]

Obviously the family has my sympathy RIP. However i also feel something for the boat driver. the tail end of a speedboat/powerboat, tracks at about a metre above the waterline when it is standing still and only drops as it trims to the engine torque, then to nearly the waterline and finally below.

so the chances of him seeing the lady are minute. especially if she were snorkeling ( or swimming under the waterline).

Really its a tragedy for all parties concerned. I would imagine he will feel much the same as a train driver when someone jumps off a bridge.

The whole process to hydraulically lower the engine takes less than 30 secs to a minute normally, plus the engine will not be rotating props until engaged.

Any real boat license holder, knows to check before engaging the prop. If it was a larger vessel it would have a boat boy to check also at rear.

Not just for safety as to hit a prop on anything is damaging and costly anyhow.Any Thai boat captain I have worked with knows this procedure especially if people are around. Sorry but unless a freak accident ie she literally swam under murky water into the path of the prop. I can not see any other reason than laziness disregard or apathy being the reason the captain didn't check first.

you are of course correct. but here the engine would have already been in the water, he would look back to check ropes and people and standing people in the water were away from the boat, and started off. the speedboats usually have only one person on them, the driver and the rest are passengers. I doubt he was looking for someone swimming at, or below, water level. his seat and controls are at least 3-4 metres from the tail end too.

a real tragedy. if there is a way to stop it happening again.. would be good.

[DD13]

Easiest way to stop this happening again is for there to be a responsible person (if there is such a thing amongst that set of people) stationed either in the stern of the craft, or actually in the water at the stern policing swimmers, and train these "ton-up" operators properly..................but of course that is too simple and straight forward for this part of the world

RIP Dear Lady.... and sympathies to her Husband and Family

Edited January 12, 2013 by DD13

[Markaew]

The problem with tourist is they don't understand the Thai mentality. Death is nothing to Thais and a Farang death is even less. People visit other countries and they assume a common mentality with the locals which in many cases, such as here, is very dangerous. The lady probably gave the Thais the benefit of the doubt and assumed Thais running a business would be responsible. Wrong assumption here but an honest one and fatal one from her. So much much for the family destination. Not so safe, is it?