Italian Couple Thank Police After Phuket Jungle Rescue

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Italian couple thank police after Phuket jungle rescue
Tanyaluk Sakoot



PHUKET: -- An Italian couple who spent nearly three hours lost on Khao Phra Taew yesterday (March 27) came to the Phuket Tourist Police Station today to thank officers who found them and guided them out of the woods.

Mirko Bolognini, 42, and Valentina Parisani, 33, rode a motorbike from Patong to Bang Pae waterfall about 5:30 pm.

They planned to walk from the waterfall over the top of Khao Phra Taew and down to the Ton Sai waterfall, on the other side of the forest reserve.

But about 7:15 pm, with the daylight long gone and after trekking about a kilometre into the forest, the couple realised they had no idea where they were.

Mr Bolognini called a friend on the staff of the hotel where he and Ms Parisani were staying, and asked for his help.

The friend called the Tourist Police. Pol Maj Urumporn Koondejsumrit explained that he contacted a Tourist Police mobile patrol officer. He in turn contacted the Forestry Department, who sent staff to look for the couple.

Meanwhile, the couple were still stumbling around in the dark.

“Yes, we were scared,” Mr Bolognini said today. “But we did not call out for help. The forest here is very different from at home and we were worried that if we shouted we might attract dangerous predators.

“After darkness fell we got lost. So when we spoke to the police by phone they could see out position. My phone battery was nearly dead, so they asked us to stay where we were, and they came and got us.”

When officers found the couple, they were, in fact, almost at their intended destination, Ton Sai waterfall.

“We have been in Phuket about a month,” Mr Bolognini said. “We will return home in two days. Of course, I will share our eventual happy experience with my friends in Italy,” he said with a smile.

This is the second time in five months that officials have rescued lost tourists in Khao Phra Taew Forest Reserve.

At the end of October last year, a search involving 100 officers was launched to find British couple Mohammed Samir and Hanna Zareen Shaid. The couple called to say they were lost, but after that there were no more calls. They were found safe just after midnight.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/italian-couple-thank-police-after-phuket-jungle-rescue-38234.php


-- Phuket News 2013-03-28

[Kananga]

~~~But we did not call out for help. The forest here is very different from at home and we were worried that if we shouted we might attract dangerous predators.~~~

I dont think the taxi drivers stray that far from Bangla road.

Edited March 28, 2013 by Kananga

[taninthai]

who decides to start walking through the jungle an hour before sunset ,more people leaving there common sense at the airport.

[JetsetBkk]

we were worried that if we shouted we might attract dangerous predators.

I hear sabre-toothed tigers come out at night.

[yummypizza]

Well isn't it all just dandy....

[yummypizza]

Headlines in two months could have been,bodies of two tourists found in jungle 500 meters from major road, no suspicious circumstances!!I guess all's well that ends well... nice harmless story..

[Siriam]

~~~But we did not call out for help. The forest here is very different from at home and we were worried that if we shouted we might attract dangerous predators.~~~

I dont think the taxi drivers stray that far from Bangla road.

Hahaha good one!

Edited March 28, 2013 by Siriam

[NeverSure]

~~~But we did not call out for help. The forest here is very different from at home and we were worried that if we shouted we might attract dangerous predators.~~~

I dont think the taxi drivers stray that far from Bangla road.

True, but there might be jet ski operators at the base of the falls.

[Rickster]

I wouldn't mind being lost in a jungle with her for 3 hours!!!

[Greer]

I wouldn't mind being lost in a jungle with her for 3 hours!!!

...Hehe..so they need worry less about "predators" with you as the guide!

[lavender19]

I wouldn't mind being lost in a jungle with her for 3 hours!!!

First thing that came to my mind as well.

Is that an address tag they are holding?

[Jimi007]

I wouldn't mind being lost in a jungle with her for 3 hours!!!

First thing that came to my mind as well.

Is that an address tag they are holding?

1155 is the number on the tag, which is the number to call the Thai Tourist Police.

[Rickster]

I wouldn't mind being lost in a jungle with her for 3 hours!!!

First thing that came to my mind as well.

Is that an address tag they are holding?

1155 is the number on the tag, which is the number to call the Thai Tourist Police.

If your lucky enough that they can be arsed to pick up!!!

[Greer]

^{Actually it does point up one possible flaw - if this is a popular walk, and others have been lost in similar circumstances (ignoring for now the concept of going for a walk in the jungle an hour before sunset), I wonder if it might be a good idea for the Parks service to spend some cash and make the path between the two sites, more easily navigable, perhaps pave it, or maybe put concrete blocks and galv-metal stairs - similar to the sort of thing done in many tourist sites in other parts of the world - an example is the wetlands paths in some parts of Australia.}

Edited March 29, 2013 by Greer