Phuket: Swedish honeymooner partially paralyzed as speedboat tackles rough waters

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Phuket honeymooner partially paralyzed as speedboat tackles rough waters
Phuket Gazette


Karin Josefsson and her husband, Conny, at Bangkok Hospital Phuket after the accident. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- A Swedish honeymooner in Phuket was partially paralyzed from a fall as her speedboat to Phi Phi Island tackled choppy waters last month.

“I still have pain in my back. I can move my legs a little bit, but I cannot move my feet at all,” Karin Josefsson said. “My husband also hurt his back, but not severely.”

Mrs Josefsson and her husband, Conny, arrived in Phuket on January 14.

“We have been married for a year and are finally taking our honeymoon. My husband has been here before and told me how beautiful the island is. I love scuba diving, and the Phuket people and beaches are so nice,” said Mrs Josefsson from her hospital bed.

The Josefssons boarded a speedboat destined for Phi Phi with about 24 other passengers on January 19.

“The waves were too high and too strong, but the captain insisted we leave. I had not seen any other boats leave that morning,” Mrs Josefsson said.

“Six of us sat at the front of the boat. The ride was so rough that… my husband and I fell down onto the deck.”

“I was immediately in pain and could not feel anything below my waist. I shouted at the driver to turn around, but he refused. I showed him that I was in pain and could not move. Finally, we headed back to Phuket.”

Several minutes after the boat arrived, an ambulance transferred the Josefssons to Bangkok Hospital Phuket. An x-ray taken at the hospital revealed serious damage to Mrs Josefsson’s spine.

“The alignment wasn’t right, the doctor put a metal rod on each side to support it,” she explained.

The two metal rods were held in place with nine screws.

“I don’t want to file any complaints or get anyone in trouble. I hope they consider this a lesson learned. I don’t want anyone else to face a situation like this,” she said.

Mrs Josefsson agreed to file the medical costs through her personal health insurance, as requested by the boat operator.

Specialists from Sweden, Denmark and Norway will visit Mrs Josefsson and evaluate her condition, she explained. She and Mr Josefsson flew back with the doctors on January 30.

“It might take months to fully recover, but I promise I will be back to Phuket,” she added.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-honeymooner-partially-paralyzed-as-speedboat-tackles-rough-waters-24514.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-02-05

[steelepulse]

Very nice of her to not want to "get anyone else in trouble" but seriously, someone needs to take responsibility for this, specifically the speedboat company and the (not so bright) "captain" as well as their insurance company (if they even had insurance). I seriously doubt the company has insurance, but it should be mandatory for any tour company to have a big umbrella insurance policy to cover such incidents as is required in most civilized countries.

[lee b]

It's such a shame that these things happen, and anyone who has been to Phi Phi knows just how choppy the waters can get there, and some of the boat drivers think that they can get through anything. Hope she has a speedy recovery and glad to see that she will be back in the future !

[LivinginKata]

The patient should have at least filed an official complaint against the captain and made a claim against her costs. I hope that her insurance company tries to claim the boat company.

[eezergood]

Something not right here - I bet she has been paid off not to make a complaint

[BKKBrit]

What a pleasant couple. Makes such a refreshing change to the blame culture we're all so familiar with. I am sorry their holiday turned into a nightmare and I wish her a speedy recovery.

[TheMac]

"Mrs Josefsson agreed to file the medical costs through her personal health insurance, as requested by the boat operator."

Smells rotten fishes here ... wish a speed recovery to her.

[stevenl]

Very nice of her to not want to "get anyone else in trouble" but seriously, someone needs to take responsibility for this, specifically the speedboat company and the (not so bright) "captain" as well as their insurance company (if they even had insurance). I seriously doubt the company has insurance, but it should be mandatory for any tour company to have a big umbrella insurance policy to cover such incidents as is required in most civilized countries.

Accident insurance is mandatory in Thailand for tour companies.

[steelepulse]

Very nice of her to not want to "get anyone else in trouble" but seriously, someone needs to take responsibility for this, specifically the speedboat company and the (not so bright) "captain" as well as their insurance company (if they even had insurance). I seriously doubt the company has insurance, but it should be mandatory for any tour company to have a big umbrella insurance policy to cover such incidents as is required in most civilized countries.

Accident insurance is mandatory in Thailand for tour companies.

Begs the question then, why isn't the boat operators insurance paying and why did they tell her to use theirs? How much is the coverage for the mandatory insurance and what is it supposed to cover?

[Somtamnication]

The boat company got away with murder.

[bender92]

She saw the rough water and decided to get on the boat. Her choice.

[stevenl]

Very nice of her to not want to "get anyone else in trouble" but seriously, someone needs to take responsibility for this, specifically the speedboat company and the (not so bright) "captain" as well as their insurance company (if they even had insurance). I seriously doubt the company has insurance, but it should be mandatory for any tour company to have a big umbrella insurance policy to cover such incidents as is required in most civilized countries.

Accident insurance is mandatory in Thailand for tour companies.

Begs the question then, why isn't the boat operators insurance paying and why did they tell her to use theirs? How much is the coverage for the mandatory insurance and what is it supposed to cover?

Judging by the story, nobody asked the insurance company to pay. Why? Maybe because of the additional work that brings the operator, who could also be afraid the premium would increase next year.

Or maybe the tour company is operating illegally without the mandatory insurance.

[belg]

and who is fitting the bill here? why not press charges? this happens all the time... nobody complains, than the pain remains...

only thing you can do is : avoid these kind of dangerous rides... did the 24 passengers even have a life jacket???

[stevenl]

She saw the rough water and decided to get on the boat. Her choice.

Yes, she could. But not knowing the local waters, not knowing the capabilities of the local boats, and maybe even just being a tourist who has no idea about these things she got on board.

If conditions are unsafe, the captain should decide to cancel, or if this can already be judged in advance the company management should have cancelled. And maybe it was possible to go to Phi Phi safely, provided the captain had reduced speed.

[Brevity]

Very nice of her to not want to "get anyone else in trouble" but seriously, someone needs to take responsibility for this, specifically the speedboat company and the (not so bright) "captain" as well as their insurance company (if they even had insurance). I seriously doubt the company has insurance, but it should be mandatory for any tour company to have a big umbrella insurance policy to cover such incidents as is required in most civilized countries.

Accident insurance is mandatory in Thailand for tour companies.

Begs the question then, why isn't the boat operators insurance paying and why did they tell her to use theirs? How much is the coverage for the mandatory insurance and what is it supposed to cover?

Probably because insurance companies are notorious for increasing premiums to make up for the payments they make to claimants. Or if the boat operator has proven to be stupid/negligent through people making other claims against his policy, they may refuse to renew or continue his policy. Think of it as your auto insurance. If you plow into someone's car, and they say "Mai pen lai, khrap. Don't bother involving your insurance company.", aren't you going to be happy? Making claims against your policy is never a good thing. Hopefully the couple's insurance company won't be so lethargic and will go after proper payment and a hefty settlement for pain and suffering caused by negligence.

Although, I have to say that the couple should have used more common sense and not got in the boat in the first place. If no other boats of the same size were tackling those waves, what could possibly make this boat or operator safer? Unfortunately, we have a tendency to let our guards down when on holiday in far away places. In the name of adventure, we will often do things we would never do in our own countries on a regular day.

Edited February 5, 2014 by Brevity

[Bung]

The trip may well have been ok if the "captain" reduced his speed and angle of attack through the water but of course he wouldn't have cared about his passengers safety and comfort. It would be like transporting pigs for him. He would have been fine however with a padded, supportive seat and wheel to hang on to.

[ajarnmarc]

Experiences I've had on Speedboats in Thailand is:

The captains consider it a speed boat therefore it's to go maximum speed all the way.

The two times i ventured for a trip on such a vessel,

I arrived with severe back & stomach pain,

from the jolting of the vessel.

The Captains just smile when you request for them to slow down.

Never again...

I respect that she wanted to get her own treatment,

and if she'd gone through the boat company,

the treatment would of most likely been lower,

but not filing a complaint,

just allowed the Captain to do it all over again,

with little or no thought of his passengers.

Thai society often complain to anyone or anything with two ears,

when something negative happens to them.

Problem is, it's seldom to or at the person that caused the problem.

So nothing ever improves or if it does, it's veeeery slooooow.

The locals just suck it up and wait till they get to town or their village,

and then let loose.

[Guest]

The patient should have at least filed an official complaint against the captain and made a claim against her costs. I hope that her insurance company tries to claim the boat company.

I think the couple have done the right thing for themselves.

The Swedish insurance company is probably way easier for them to deal with, compared to the boat insurance company here. There will be costs when they get back home, which would not likely be covered by the Thai insurance company.

By not making complaints the couple don't have to deal with all the bad things which comes with it.

Then again, they might expect the Thai government to inspect the case and fine the boat operator - the way it would probably done in Sweden.

[Suffinator]

File a complaint or not the outcome is the same... it's ignored.

[ayayay]

Something not right here - I bet she has been paid off not to make a complaint

ROFL another Thaivisa detective

[Old Croc]

She saw the rough water and decided to get on the boat. Her choice.

The second mistake was to sit in the bow

[slipperylobster]

Something not right here - I bet she has been paid off not to make a complaint

Perhaps. Sounds like a spoiled honeymoon and lifelong pain. Somebody owes.

[Captor]

It is not easy to see how hard it will be before going on the boat! I have done that tour myself and I was really worried about my spine!

I have never faced that bumby boat tour before. Beware of speedboats! So unconfortable. I prefer a longtail boat if there are. Takes a little bit more time but much more comfortable. She should have made a complaint just in order to see if that makes any different. I doubt it.

[Andre0720]

She saw the rough water and decided to get on the boat. Her choice.

What one sees from the shore, and what one sees out at sea, are two different worlds...

The captain knew that....

[hercdogules]

She saw the rough water and decided to get on the boat. Her choice.

Wow you lost the plot on what "Captain" in any other country that Thailand is.

"If all else fails, do what the captain says" is the old adage. That's why he's got title.

Poor people and in there good years. Wish the communication would get out to the masses of the gross neglagence here obviously

[hercdogules]

She saw the rough water and decided to get on the boat. Her choice.

What one sees from the shore, and what one sees out at sea, are two different worlds...

The captain knew that....

I would say the "Captain" either knew that... OR he SHOULD HAVE known that, IF he were a REAL captain with REAL captains certifications...

[pkspeaker]

when i visited pp me and my wife got into a smaller speedboat and the same thing started to happen, we got into some choppy water and we started to hop up and then slam down, hop up and slam down, i immediate thought of my spine, i called to the boat driver to slow down and fortunately he did before i hurt myself and there was no injury..

[falangadang]

It's such a shame that these things happen, and anyone who has been to Phi Phi knows just how choppy the waters can get there, and some of the boat drivers think that they can get through anything. Hope she has a speedy recovery and glad to see that she will be back in the future !

I think "most" not "some" of the drivers think that its fun and macho to tackle the choppy seas.

Little dick syndrome combined with low IQ and there you have the perfect qualifications for a Phuket/Pattaya speed boat captain!

PS... a speedy recovery to the lovely Swedish lady and her husband ;-)

[Naroge]

She saw the rough water and decided to get on the boat. Her choice.

It was her first trip to Phuket. She trusted the "captain" knew the conditions, which must have been a fair assumption on her part.

[Naroge]

Something not right here - I bet she has been paid off not to make a complaint

Why? If here insurance company pays, then this is the easiest way for her as she can handle all claims back in Sweden instead of having to deal with a Thai insurance company.

But I hope that her insurance company will claim the Thai insurance company so that there will be a feed back to the tour operator. Otherwise they never learn.