Phuket expat describes bungy accident horror

[Guest]

I really don't understand how people can thing any of these kind of attractions are safe here. I would trust that in the western world, but out of that region, no. Anywhere in South America, Africa, Asia with exception of Japan, HK, Singapore, Taiwan and probably South Korea, Eastern Europe, no way.

It's cheap therefore it's value of spent money..? The thrill of doing a jump like that is to trust the people who have prepared the system.

Personally I would prefer jumping from a airplane where I would at least packed the parachute myself, therefore taking control of the act.

[rebelplatoon]

Sorry to say in Chiang Mai is a fully licensed fully equipped bungy operator. Never any accidents for 10 odd years. The owner is a kiwi, coming from the business in NZ. New hooks new ropes new bungy cords and constant calculations are tge key. Invest. Rip to these poor folks.

[DLP]

I really don't understand how people can thing any of these kind of attractions are safe here. I would trust that in the western world, but out of that region, no. Anywhere in South America, Africa, Asia with exception of Japan, HK, Singapore, Taiwan and probably South Korea, Eastern Europe, no way.

It's cheap therefore it's value of spent money..? The thrill of doing a jump like that is to trust the people who have prepared the system.

Personally I would prefer jumping from a airplane where I would at least packed the parachute myself, therefore taking control of the act.

The accident happened as they were going up, not coming down.

[Lite Beer]

Two workers killed in Phuket after bungee jump sling breaks during testing
Salinee Prap
The Sunday Nation

The site of a new bungee-jumping business in Phuket, where an accident occurred during a test of its new system, leaving two workers dead and another injured.

PHUKET: -- Two workers were killed and another injured after a wire sling snapped while they were testing a new bungee-jumping system in Phuket's Muang district.

The incident also prompted local authorities to temporarily close the place pending inspection.

Police and rescue workers rushed to the scene in Soi San Chao Kuan Ou, tambon Chalong, at about 9pm on Friday and found two bodies in a bungee basket. The victims were identified as the business' owner Pitakchai Wongsricha, 28, and bungee mechanic Tossaporn Suksri, 27.

The injured employee, Anupong Kanthawong, 37, is in a stable condition at Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Police said the sling snapped, sending the basket and the two men inside crashing to the ground.

Police found that the company had earlier held a merit-making ceremony to mark the business' opening and then tested the system using a 75kg sandbag.

The four previous tests went well, so Pitakchai reportedly suggested a fifth test using people.

The three men went up the tower and Anupong was injured after jumping from the tower's 52m level into a pond.

After Anupong jumped, the basket carrying Pitakchai and Tossaporn shook up and down several times before the sling snapped, sending the basket to the ground and killing them instantly.

Tambon Chalong mayor Samran Jindapol, who inspected the scene yesterday, said the company had obtained a permit to build a structure up to 12 metres high so the local authority would suspend construction pending adjustment of the building to the conditions of the permit.

-- The Nation 2014-04-20

[Lite Beer]

Phuket officials order a halt to deadly bungy jump
Phuket Gazette -

The bungy jumping tower, built to 54 meters, was illegal according to the Chalong Municipality. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Officers have ordered a halt to any further development of the illegal bungy-jumping site in Phuket where two men died and one was seriously injured Friday night.

"It was built more than four times higher than had been approved," said Chalong Mayor Samran Jindapol.

The Chalong Municipality had approved construction of a 12-meter jump tower. However, the final construction, which had not yet been approved for safety, was 52 meters tall when it was fatally tested .

“They had only requested a building permit. They had not yet asked for permission to use it. Of course if they had asked, we wouldn’t have approved it because it is illegal to build higher than 12 meters in the area,” Mayor Samran said.

The project is located near Soi Guan Yu shrine in Chalong.

“We had received complaints from locals about the height of the jump and had asked the company to stop the project,” Mayor Samran said.

Tossaporn Suksri, one of the owners, and his mechanic Pitakchai Wongsricha, 30, both fell to their deaths after a malfunction caused the platform they were standing on to free fall.

"The cable attached to the platform frayed and snapped," explained Chalong Police Deputy Superintendent Jumroon Plaidoung.

Anupong Kantawong, who had jumped with the bungy cord attached to his feet and anchored to the platform before the malfunction, was seriously injured after crashing into the pond below.

Mr Tossaporn’s partners have been told to halt work on the project.

Mr Anupong was rushed from the site to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phuket-officials-order-halt-deadly-bungy-jump/29191#ad-image-0

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-04-20

[Rooo]

Illegal in the first place? Wow they have really taken some decisive action here. What a bunch of corrupt officials, pretending not to know what goes on in their own backyard.

I hope some heads will roll in the aftermath of this unfortunate accident.

[madmitch]

Illegal in the first place? Wow they have really taken some decisive action here. What a bunch of corrupt officials, pretending not to know what goes on in their own backyard.

I hope some heads will roll in the aftermath of this unfortunate accident.

Heads rolling? No chance. No one official will be found to have any responsibility. If the accident hadn't happened, this jump would be operational with no comment at all on its illegality.

As for me, what's the point of jumping off a bloody crane above a piece of wasteland? That's what the pictures look like. If you are going to do a bungy jump, do it somewhere with at least some decent surroundings.

[eezergood]

Terrible accident. And my respects to the deceased.

The complete lack of safety and construction standards here in Thailand is a good reason not to venture onto any of these amazing experiences.

There have been accidents elsewhere with this type of equipment, even in the UK. One fatal accident on a fairground ride was the result of using the wrong bolts. Allegedly common low-tensile bolts had been used instead of high-tensile machine bolts which had been lost. OK one doesn't expect the workers to have a degree in engineering but it doesn't much education to look for the "8.8" or "10.9" which is stamped on the heads of machine bolts.

The low tensile bolts are perfectly adequate for bolting timber structures together but they are not intended for use in machinery as their strength is only about one third of that of an "8.8" bolt of the same size.

As to the lift it would appear that the winch kept on pulling and snapped the belt. A correctly set limit switch would have prevented this. Correctly sized fuses or an over-current trip would have also stopped the motor.

I've seen similar errors made before. One gross error was the work done on a three ton capacity lifting platform that was like a tail lift on a lorry. The platform used to stop about three or four inches higher than was desired. The bloke in charge ordered the guide channels of the machine to be drilled and stop bolts fitted. The result was that the table used to tilt at the end of its travel. This catapulted an item that was on wheels into the stores where it knocked down a row of shelves! Ironically the firm employed about a hundred engineers and technicians who would have known how to re-adjust the micro-switches but they were never asked. (The lift was the prerogative of the "bricks and windows department" and not the electronics section) The machine was covered with a tarpaulin and was left unused for three years after which it was sold for scrap! This fiasco occurred in London in the 1970s and I still find it incredible that a foreman could be so thick. Unfortunately similar gaffes keep on occurring all the time. Take care!

It does & has happen in the west and on TV - Noel Edmonds tv show, they forgot to attatch the bungy cord!

[HerbalEd]

Terrible news, very sad - my condolences to their relatives and friends.

A tragic event that illustrates again, the need for very much stronger enforcement of safety regulations.

Gotta have 'em before you can enforce 'em.

[grumpyoldman]

Illegal in the first place? Wow they have really taken some decisive action here. What a bunch of corrupt officials, pretending not to know what goes on in their own backyard.

I hope some heads will roll in the aftermath of this unfortunate accident.

Heads rolling? No chance. No one official will be found to have any responsibility. If the accident hadn't happened, this jump would be operational with no comment at all on its illegality.

As for me, what's the point of jumping off a bloody crane above a piece of wasteland? That's what the pictures look like. If you are going to do a bungy jump, do it somewhere with at least some decent surroundings.

Good post MM.

Whole heartedly agree, when I did this at AJ Hacketts Queenstown NZ, you're over this picturesque river, in a canyon, beautiful. Off I went into a big swan dive, I figured if the cord didn't hold I was going to do the swaner into the river. Great experence.

Off a crane in Kathu? I think not.

[canuckamuck]

They didn't have to wait long for the inevitable loss of life. Who would bungy in this country?

Although I wouldn't be surprised to see this venue open for business in a month or so.

[Bpuumike]

The accident happened as they were going up, not coming down.

Very true but they weren't killed until they came down and hit the ground (or water, not sure).

The only fortunate aspect is that the owner and 'engineer' won't be able to go on and cause deaths and injuries elsewhere.

[Dogmatix]

Very sad for the families but anyone who goes bungy jumping IMHO needs their head examined. Apart from the risk of fatality from faulty equipment, as in this case, many people get detached retinas from bungy jumping resulting in total irreparable blindness.

The owner erected a 52 metre structure after obtaining permission for a 12 metre structure. All I can say is that it was better for him to kill himself on the illegally constructed death trap he hoped would make him rich before he had the chance to kill innocent tourists on his "scaffold".

Another Darwin award for Thailand.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Dogmatix

[ClutchClark]

So what time is it open tomorrow. It's been pre-disastered so it must be safe now.

Go for it. The odds are in your favor.

The odds of this type of occurrence are so low that it it would be nearly statistically impossible to happen again within 24 hours at the same location.

;-) ;-) ;-)

Edited April 20, 2014 by ClutchClark

[ClutchClark]

What is it about Thai culture...actually, I see it in several Asian cultures...that results in a "reactive" rather than "proactive" mindset?

I don't recall "fatalism" being part of Buddha doctrine.

Does it originate in the concept of "acceptance of reality"?

Does it have something to do with Karma? Some result of the notion that the way to bring about change in destiny is through internal practices (karma) rather than external (following engineering standards)?

Any wisdom on this would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Edited April 20, 2014 by ClutchClark

[Soupdragon]

So what time is it open tomorrow. It's been pre-disastered so it must be safe now.

Go for it. The odds are in your favor.

The odds of this type of occurrence are so low that it it would be nearly statistically impossible to happen again within 24 hours at the same location.

;-) ;-) ;-)

You don't live here do you The odds on anything failing shortly after it has been 'repaired' here are staggeringly high.

[ClutchClark]

So what time is it open tomorrow. It's been pre-disastered so it must be safe now.

Go for it. The odds are in your favor.

The odds of this type of occurrence are so low that it it would be nearly statistically impossible to happen again within 24 hours at the same location.

;-) ;-) ;-)

You don't live here do you The odds on anything failing shortly after it has been 'repaired' here are staggeringly high.

I had hoped my three smiley faces would appear as emoticons so that my post would be seen as humor.

Perhaps I should add a disclaimer at the bottom.

[Soupdragon]

What is it about Thai culture...actually, I see it in several Asian cultures...that results in a "reactive" rather than "proactive" mindset?

I don't recall "fatalism" being part of Buddha doctrine.

Does it originate in the concept of "acceptance of reality"?

Does it have something to do with Karma? Some result of the notion that the way to bring about change in destiny is through internal practices (karma) rather than external (following engineering standards)?

Any wisdom on this would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

That can't be proactive, that requires the ability to consider the consequences and that simply is not in their skillset.

[ableguy]

Seems like they got permission to build the tower 12 meters tall but actually put it up at 52 meters tall, enough said.

[ableguy]

I really don't understand how people can thing any of these kind of attractions are safe here. I would trust that in the western world, but out of that region, no. Anywhere in South America, Africa, Asia with exception of Japan, HK, Singapore, Taiwan and probably South Korea, Eastern Europe, no way.

It's cheap therefore it's value of spent money..? The thrill of doing a jump like that is to trust the people who have prepared the system.

Personally I would prefer jumping from a airplane where I would at least packed the parachute myself, therefore taking control of the act.

The accident happened as they were going up, not coming down.

They were safe going up, it was the coming down that killed them.

[DLP]

I really don't understand how people can thing any of these kind of attractions are safe here. I would trust that in the western world, but out of that region, no. Anywhere in South America, Africa, Asia with exception of Japan, HK, Singapore, Taiwan and probably South Korea, Eastern Europe, no way.

It's cheap therefore it's value of spent money..? The thrill of doing a jump like that is to trust the people who have prepared the system.

Personally I would prefer jumping from a airplane where I would at least packed the parachute myself, therefore taking control of the act.

The accident happened as they were going up, not coming down.

They were safe going up, it was the coming down that killed them.

What goes up must come down.

[poooket]

Safety is hardly anything important in Thailand when it comes to money...

I see over and over again in so many Condos, Apartments and Office lifts, including where I live and where I work, after the Maintenance expire date is passed, they just remove the document from the lift until 6 months to 1 year later they come for maintenance.

incredible thailand...

+1

Seen many lifts in condos which maintenance expire date has passed. When point it out, only response u get is...No problem! No problem!

[oldsailor35]

So what time is it open tomorrow. It's been pre-disastered so it must be safe now.

At 1700bt a jump i won"t be going.

1700 Bht per jump WOW! must be something good. All the jumps i have had are usually around Bht 1000.

[oldsailor35]

Very sad for the families but anyone who goes bungy jumping IMHO needs their head examined. Apart from the risk of fatality from faulty equipment, as in this case, many people get detached retinas from bungy jumping resulting in total irreparable blindness.

The owner erected a 52 metre structure after obtaining permission for a 12 metre structure. All I can say is that it was better for him to kill himself on the illegally constructed death trap he hoped would make him rich before he had the chance to kill innocent tourists on his "scaffold".

Another Darwin award for Thailand.

Would'nt be at all suprised to hear that some official knew what was going on and for a little consideration agreed turn a blind eye.

[yougivemebaby]

What goes up must come down.

Its not the height I am ever worried about. It's really the falling and splatter I am afraid of!

[stevenl]

Very sad for the families but anyone who goes bungy jumping IMHO needs their head examined. Apart from the risk of fatality from faulty equipment, as in this case, many people get detached retinas from bungy jumping resulting in total irreparable blindness.

The owner erected a 52 metre structure after obtaining permission for a 12 metre structure. All I can say is that it was better for him to kill himself on the illegally constructed death trap he hoped would make him rich before he had the chance to kill innocent tourists on his "scaffold".

Another Darwin award for Thailand.

Would'nt be at all suprised to hear that some official knew what was going on and for a little consideration agreed turn a blind eye.

Of course they knew. But as long as all is going well, who cares.