Scuba divers in Thailand mangled by speedboat

A Russian diver lost his leg and another was seriously injured after being hit by a speedboat near Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Lee Island in Thailand this morning.

“I was taking 30 tourists to Ao Maya when it felt like we struck a submerged object. I turned the boat around and saw scuba diving tanks, and the water began to fill with blood,” said Adisorn Benmamood, the 22-year-old captian of Sunsan 2. “The tourists were conscious and floating to the surface, but severely injured.”

Russian nationals, named by police as Sergei Dmitriev, 30, and Dmitry Kurynov, 48, were rushed to Phi Phi Hospital. Mr Dmitriev lost a leg in the accident, and both were bleeding heavily, confirmed Phi Phi Police Chief Jetsada Junphum.

“The men were originally taken to Phi Phi Hospital by the diving boat they were with. I can’t remember the name of the boat at the moment, but it was a local Phi Phi operation,” said Lt Col Jetsada. “There was not enough blood at the hospital, so both men were transferred to Krabi Hospital.”

Police, who have yet to confirm whether or not the divers were using a surface buoy at the shallow depth in which they were struck, are investigating the incident.“We will speak with the speedboat driver and witnesses further before filing any charges,” explained Lt Col Jetsada.

Source: www.phuketgazette.net

Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong