Chinese tourist faces amputation after getting mangled in speedboat propeller near Koh Phi Phi

[webfact]

Chinese tourist faces amputation after getting mangled in speedboat propeller near Koh Phi Phi

Image: Daily News

KRABI: -- A teenage Chinese tourist faces a possible double leg amputation after getting caught in the propeller of a speedboat on Phi Phi Island Thursday.

Initial evidence suggests that after the man entered the water to go swimming he got stuck under the outboard in heavy waves. The boat's crew revved the engine on reverse and he got caught in the blades, reported Daily News.

Lee Yuheng, 18, was given emergency surgery at Krabi hospital after being transferred from PP Hospital. He had severe wounds to both legs and his right arm and surgeons were unsure if they could save his legs. He had lost a lot of blood.

Tour guide Ying Chiang, 31, said that his group comprising 34 Chinese tourists had left Phuket earlier and arrived at PP around 11 am. As the tourists were entering the water for a swim one shouted that he had got stuck under the engine.

According to the guide the crew revved the engine and tried to reverse and the victim got caught in the propeller.

Police are to interview two staff on the King Poseidon boat. They are Natthawut Chaiket, 24, and Reudol Thongdee.

This was the fourth speedboat accident in the area since the start of the year that has left 1 dead and ten injured.

Source: Daily News

-- 2016-07-08

[webfact]

Chinese tourist, 18, slashed by engine propeller off Phuket
Eakkapop Thongtub


Sub Lt Suwan Tuamsri from Krabi Tourist Police (right) was notified of the incident by tour guide Liu Yingchang (left). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- An 18-year-old Chinese tourist was taken to Krabi Hospital yesterday (July 7) after being hit by a tour boat’s engine propeller whilst swimming in the sea at Koh Phi Phi Don.

Sub Lt Suwan Tuamsri from Krabi Tourist Police was called to investigate an incident at around midday yesterday where it had been reported by Liu Yingchang, a tour guide from the Alibaba Tour Company, that a Chinese tourist, named as Li Yuheng, 18, had suffered injuries to his left leg an right ankle when hit by the propeller of a speedboat engine.

Sub Lt Suwan said, “We received a call from a tour guide at around noon saying that a Chinese tourist had been injured by a speedboat engine propeller.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/chinese-tourist-18-slashed-by-engine-propeller-off-phuket-58175.php


-- Phuket News 2016-07-08

[Pomthai]

Swimmers in the water, engines off. Period. Safety must come first and it clearly doesn't.

[Confuscious]

"This was the fourth speedboat accident in the area since the start of the year that has left 1 dead and ten injured."

It looks as the speedboat Captains are doing their best to promote Koh Phi Phi to tourists.

"Come to Thailand and leave in wheelchair."

[petedk]

I read only yesterday that some official said that Thailand was now safe for tourists and that accidents like that would never happen again.

I haven't found the link yet.

[slapout]

Sounds like there is no seperation between swimming area and where speed boats off load people wanting to go swimming.

That this accident could even happen is unthinkable if the company and boat captian had a common sense organization of tourist handling and safety concerns. Sieze assets and/or insurance to make a huge award to the tourist for medical care for life, re hab, etc.

Ban the boat operator from being as close as 5 kilometer to any body of water for life. Put him in a land locked job without access to any vehicle powered by fuel.

[chrisinth]

The authorities should be seriously looking at it being compulsory for these engines to have propeller guards fitted, especially if they are stopping to let their tours swim without shutting down the engines. Or in the habit of starting the engines when people are still in the water.

The argument that the propeller guards cause slight cavitation and a small reduction in speed should not even be mentioned beside passenger safety.

You would immediately see a vast reduction in the number of prop-rash cases that we see in Thai waters with these devices fitted..

[Tchooptip]

Swimmers in the water, engines off. Period. Safety must come first and it clearly doesn't.

I do not even understand how is it possible otherwise

[12DrinkMore]

"This was the fourth speedboat accident in the area since the start of the year that has left 1 dead and ten injured."

It looks as the speedboat Captains are doing their best to promote Koh Phi Phi to tourists.

"Come to Thailand and leave in wheelchair."

They are not captains.

They are minimum wage earning boat drivers. Mostly young lads who like the "status" and the fun.

In this case the one in charge is, aged 20, Naradon Tongdee. 35 passengers in his care and he brings them from Phuket with storm warnings in the Andaman Sea.

Unbelievable.

Edited July 8, 2016 by 12DrinkMore

[mike324]

thai logic - rev the engine if someone is stuck close to it.....

[Inepto Cracy]

I have warned Chinese tourists coming here, that when we say we are going to get legless, we mean party drunk.

Not have your bloody legs amputated by a speed boat driving half wit. Will the authorities ever crack down on this, NO.

[clockman]

Trust me, we are Thai.!

[Bung]

So he calls out he's stuck on the engine and the "captain" revs it in reverse? Why? To get him free from the engine? He's not a lump of seaweed!

[ChrisY1]

The unending saga of poor safety practices just continues unabated throughout these islands and the main beach resort areas.....and one can only believe that the resort authorities, the marine department and police do not one reasonably active brain cell amongst them.......hard hard is enforcing the rules......how difficult is training for operators......then even if all that happened, the boat operators are generally dopey and would continue in their ways.....

Tourists safe in Thailand......pigs ar**!!

[nakhonandy]

I think they have have more than four accidents this year and with more fatalities/injured.

[brownknees]

Boat trips = money,lots so cannot stop the flow have to keep going.Safety ?I see that from next year a certain standard of life jacket will be enforced.What was shown was a flotation devicewhich is all they use here.All boats carrying say over 15 people should carry a valise dinghy pack but hey they cost money!!

[lizardofoz]

"This was the fourth speedboat accident in the area since the start of the year that has left 1 dead and ten injured."

It looks as the speedboat Captains are doing their best to promote Koh Phi Phi to tourists.

"Come to Thailand and leave in wheelchair."

They are not captains.

They are minimum wage earning boat drivers. Mostly young lads who like the "status" and the fun.

In this case the one in charge is, aged 20, Naradon Tongdee. 35 passengers in his care and he brings them from Phuket with storm warnings in the Andaman Sea.

Unbelievable.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your right about not captains. I would bet most of them get their licenses in a packet I think. Buy the Cornflakes and get the license inside for free

[AlphMichaels]

100% the fault of the tour operator and crew. As it often (not always) is but they continue to operate with impunity. Time for change.

[moe666]

why was this guy swimming around the boat to start with, very likely the boat crew didn't know the guy was there. Got to put it on the swimmer for going into danger. I know that is defiantlyaganist the Thai bashing rules

[wvavin]

"This was the fourth speedboat accident in the area since the start of the year that has left 1 dead and ten injured."

It looks as the speedboat Captains are doing their best to promote Koh Phi Phi to tourists.

"Come to Thailand and leave in wheelchair

Able to leave in wheelchair is considered very fortunate. Most of them left in an urn.

[sahibji]

very tragic and sad end to the youngster's adventure.

is there no protocol to shut down the engines before

disembarking the passengers safely.

short cuts often end in long pains.

[masuk]

Swimmers in the water, engines off. Period. Safety must come first and it clearly doesn't.

I guess the option of jumping in and helping the lad was not feasible,, considering how few people can swim here.

Revving up the engine was obviously the worst thing they could do.

[malt25]

"Propeller guards." Sure ain't rocket surgery ! Very minimal cost involved. http://www.progeng.com.au/propeller-guards Just an example.

But I'm willing to bet whatever, that it will never be legislated to be mandatory for the "death boats" here in LOS.

Of course, just my opinion.

[sawadee1947]

"This was the fourth speedboat accident in the area since the start of the year that has left 1 dead and ten injured."

It looks as the speedboat Captains are doing their best to promote Koh Phi Phi to tourists.

"Come to Thailand and leave in wheelchair."

They are not captains.

They are minimum wage earning boat drivers. Mostly young lads who like the "status" and the fun.

In this case the one in charge is, aged 20, Naradon Tongdee. 35 passengers in his care and he brings them from Phuket with storm warnings in the Andaman Sea.

Unbelievable.

......and you think only because you and some others find it unbelievable there will be any change???? How long do you live here? Do you believe in miracles?

[Dancin Dna 11]

All the right ingredients for this tragic accident occur.

[Gracas]

They always refer to the "Boat Captian". They do not have a Boat Captian just a Somchai giving it a go.

[FredNL]

Tourist's fault. If he no come to Thailand, it no happen.

Thai logic !!!

[GeckosDiving]

why was this guy swimming around the boat to start with, very likely the boat crew didn't know the guy was there. Got to put it on the swimmer for going into danger. I know that is defiantlyaganist the Thai bashing rules

Probably the stupidest thing I've ever read !! It was a snorkeling tour !! Which means people in the water around the boat !!

Get it ?

Edited July 8, 2016 by GeckosDiving

[ALFREDO]

why was this guy swimming around the boat to start with, very likely the boat crew didn't know the guy was there. Got to put it on the swimmer for going into danger. I know that is defiantlyaganist the Thai bashing rules

So, better look before you reverse, one driver, same time, one spotter, No?

[little mary sunshine]

What kind of an idiot boat captain and crew

Would allow swimmers near the propellers

Of a speed boat.