Russians rescued after canoe sinks off Phuket
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan


Grinning broadly with relief, the two tourists (with the canoe) enjoy being back on dry land with the Marine Police. Photos Marine Police

PHUKET: -- Two Russian tourists were rescued by fishermen early yesterday afternoon (January 30) after being found floating in the sea between Koh Maprao and Koh Malee, a good kilometre from the nearest land.

The two Russians had gone canoeing, but got into trouble when their canoe became swamped. Luckily, the crew of the fishing boat Ongjaroenkit 3 spotted them and fished them out of the water.

Lt Col Chatchai Sakdee, Inspector of Marine Police, told The Phuket News, “We heard about it at around 1:40 pm, and we asked the fishermen to bring them to land.”

The two canoeists were named as Maxim Abaturov, 37, and Valeriy Grakhovskiy, 38, both staying at The Village Coconut Island Beach Resort on Koh Maprao, to which they were eventually returned, none the worse for wear.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/russians-rescued-after-canoe-sinks-off-phuket-44325.php


-- Phuket News 2014-01-31

These kind of kayaks, or "sit-a-tops" as we call them in the whitewater world, are supposed to be unsinkable.
But, I do have a friend who bought one 2nd hand and told me it had a leak and he almost sunk it off the west coast of Phuket.
Scary indeed if that was the case.

The article fails to mention why they couldn't get back on the thing.

Anyway, they look pretty happy.

Good news, good job. Now, can you rescue the guy on the left's dignity?

Tippy Canoe and Russians two.

1 KM? That is a relatively relaxed swim to shore. Maybe 30 minutes. You ought to be able to cover at least 1 meter per stroke, so 1 stroke per second. Unless of course the current is pulling you back. But if you know what you are doing, you just swim diagonal to the the direction of the current and change your direction to compensate and it should eventually bring you to land.

Done loads of open water swimming.

Ok Flipper!!!!!

Or is it the 'Hoff'!!!

Speedos too !

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