Death of Australian man parasailing in Phuket - two Thai men charged with negligence

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Death of Australian man parasailing in Phuket - two Thai men charged with negligence

 

Picture: Daily News

 

PHUKET: -- Phuket police have charged the boat operator and his parasailing sidekick with negligence after the death of a 71 year old Australian tourist yesterday.

 

Roger John Hussey plummeted to the sea just off Kata beach after he became detached from a harness as he was dragged by a boat. A video showed him falling around 70 meters into shallow water.

 

He was rushed to Patong Hospital but died later from his injuries.

 

Yesterday Karon police interviewed the boat driver Monthian Jandaeng, 45, and 38 year old Rungroj Rakcheep who went up behind the victim on the parasail.

 

Daily News reported that the equipment was faulty and that the necessary certification to operate such a business was not in order.

 

Both men have been charged with negligence.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-07-13

 

[bristolgeoff]

something went badly wrong 2 men went up one fell.equipment aways needs checking.rip for the fallen man

[4MyEgo]

Finally some truth to my theory of negligence on faulty equipment and not what I previously read, i.e. that the deceased pulled the hook which releases you.

 

So now what, a 500 baht fine each and 2 day suspension from going up again, more than likely IMO.

 

RIP to the digger, got to feel for his family, a holiday gone tragically wrong because of the relaxed regulations and laws, again IMO, in the Land of Smiles.

 

I also suspect that if he had any life insurance, they will be looking for an exit clause due to going up in the chute, hope that's not the case as that would just compound things for his widow and family.

[ThatFarangJack]

Being charged with negligence on failing to secure that there was no video evidence. If there was no video I doubt these men would be charged.

[4MyEgo]

3 minutes ago, ThatFarangJack said:

Being charged with negligence on failing to secure that there was no video evidence. If there was no video I doubt these men would be charged.

Perhaps you missed a line:

 

Daily News reported that the equipment was faulty and that the necessary certification to operate such a business was not in order.

 

Who needs video evidence of that ?

 

What you have to worry about is the sentence they will get, or lack if it.

[bra]

This is getting extensive coverage on all Australian TV news channels today. Very bad publicity for Phuket and Thai tourism

[Spellforce]

There is a 2nd mistake: why the thai man behind the australian was not attached ?

We can see on the video that he's trying to save the passenger ... with one hand ?

[Minnehaha]

9 minutes ago, Spellforce said:

There is a 2nd mistake: why the thai man behind the australian was not attached ?

We can see on the video that he's trying to save the passenger ... with one hand ?

I could not believe that either. I watched it again in disbelief. The 'guide' is behind the client holding on to a couple sticks and pushing for liftoff and once up then maneuvers closer to the client. I assume he "hooks up" at that point. Maybe he does not? Maybe the cowboys hang on for the ride? either way, it is seems wrong.

[craigt3365]

How about arresting the Thai officials who allowed these guys to operate?  Seems like a failure due to the Thai authorities negligence???

[atyclb]

No tandem harness and rigging, pilot and passenger. Was the chute designed for tandem?

 

 

"safety first" .   LMAO

[BangkokReady]

"Daily News reported that the equipment was faulty and that the necessary certification to operate such a business was not in order."

 

What a shocker.

 

People need to realise; if it has anything to do with safety equipment or training, don't do it in Thailand.

[Lupatria]

If life gets boring, put it in a Thai's hands. The Thai officials who allowed these guys to operate should return the tea money and get arrested with no chance to fetch an inactive post.

[NextStationBangkok]

Rip and sad.

 

Great tragedy, but i can see people running sincerely after the accident.

 

I am wondering what the second person who went one from back instructed the first one.

 

Lost in translation ?

[sensei]

35 minutes ago, Minnehaha said:

I could not believe that either. I watched it again in disbelief. The 'guide' is behind the client holding on to a couple sticks and pushing for liftoff and once up then maneuvers closer to the client. I assume he "hooks up" at that point. Maybe he does not? Maybe the cowboys hang on for the ride? either way, it is seems wrong.

I've done that before and scares me to watch that video.

It is unconventional but a "navigator" flies with the client. He stirs the chute by tugging on the ropes because there is no way the client can stir himself back to shore against the wind and with the boat out at sea.

The "navigator" just holds on and sometimes would wrap his legs around the flyers' chest area just to get leverage. 

What i see here is that there is no way the man could have unhooked or unfastened the harness himself. His sheer weight would not allow that. It could have been a rip in the worn out harness.

This is a disaster and traumatic to his companions.

RIP old man.

[Psimbo]

5 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

something went badly wrong 2 men went up one fell.equipment aways needs checking.rip for the fallen man

Wow- great deduction Sherlock!

[Destiny1990]

How can these people operating their business on public beaches without even the correct paperwork insurance documents etc? Looking at their mugshots somehow they resemble  me of the  tuk tuk driver in Patong.

[bbbbooboo]

hmmmm..... punishment for negligence in the land of smiles will probably be = 2 handsmacks, a stern telling off and 500 baht fine to deter them from being negligent again(sigh .........TIT)

[Jonmarleesco]

'Daily News reported that the equipment was faulty and that the necessary certification to operate such a business was not in order.' Should we be surprised? TiT. 

[mickba]

58 minutes ago, Minnehaha said:

I could not believe that either. I watched it again in disbelief. The 'guide' is behind the client holding on to a couple sticks and pushing for liftoff and once up then maneuvers closer to the client. I assume he "hooks up" at that point. Maybe he does not? Maybe the cowboys hang on for the ride? either way, it is seems wrong.

It appears to be normal practise? 

 

But this harness looks a lot better.

 

 

[jaiyen]

44 minutes ago, atyclb said:

No tandem harness and rigging, pilot and passenger. Was the chute designed for tandem?

 

 

"safety first" .   LMAO

I was a parascending instructor when I lived in England and I have seen these chutes in Kata many times. They are cheap crap as is the harness.  They will carry 2 people, no problem, but do not have a tandem harness. The Thai guy just hangs by the ropes.  When I flew passengers we had a proper extended harness with rings mounted in the harness for the passengers harness  to attach too. Never had any problems.  The Thai operators  are dangerous and illegal. They were banned from the beaches many times but always come back. Lots ob envelopes and they carry on killing people.  Remember the Aussie guy who was recently charged with manslaughter (I think ) when he crashed a jet ski and his G/F got killed ?   Hope the Thai cockhead gets done for manslaughter. The guys wife did a video which can be seen in the Daily Express showing the crappy canvas harness he was wearing. Looked like something from a WW2 plane.

[Toshiba66]

I wish I hadn't watched that last video.

 

I'll need a belly full of G&T's tonight so I can sleep.

[Dave67]

31 minutes ago, Spellforce said:

There is a 2nd mistake: why the thai man behind the australian was not attached ?

We can see on the video that he's trying to save the passenger ... with one hand ?

They've been piggy backing unatached for years

[ezzra]

Sadly, this is just another unnecessary death due to lack of care and attention to details

that plagues sport and recreational activities in this country, 

unless some serious and dramatic changes will be made, such situations will

continue to happen...

[Moti24]

"Both men have been charged with negligence."

 

Negligence of what!  Now, if the charge had been, "Causing death through negligence", that would be nearer the mark.  I suspect a fine and slap on the wrist will be all they get.

[hobz]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

How about arresting the Thai officials who allowed these guys to operate?  Seems like a failure due to the Thai authorities negligence???

That type of logic and reasoning inevitably leads all the way up to the top. How far dare u go?

[decca60]

Where is Miss TAT? Checking her statistics on arrivals??? Time to count those who can go back safely!!!!! If you are a genious you will see some gaps in numbers... disgusting..

[warrenview]

tragic !  i have been up on that myself at Patong and at the time didnt give a thought to anything going wrong !  it was  a great experience, not so for this poor guy RIP mate 

[Tchooptip]

1 hour ago, sensei said:

I've done that before and scares me to watch that video.

It is unconventional but a "navigator" flies with the client. He stirs the chute by tugging on the ropes because there is no way the client can stir himself back to shore against the wind and with the boat out at sea.

The "navigator" just holds on and sometimes would wrap his legs around the flyers' chest area just to get leverage. 

What i see here is that there is no way the man could have unhooked or unfastened the harness himself. His sheer weight would not allow that. It could have been a rip in the worn out harness.

This is a disaster and traumatic to his companions.

RIP old man.

 "that there is no way the man could have unhooked or unfastened the harness himself. His sheer weight would not allow that"

Absolutely! Well said! 

[mrdome]

41 minutes ago, Toshiba66 said:

I wish I hadn't watched that last video.

 

I'll need a belly full of G&T's tonight so I can sleep.

The video on this 2nd page? I actually loved that one - unlike the horrifying accident one on page 1.

 

However, no parasailing and no zip lines for me, thank you. No need to tempt fate beyond what we all do everyday.

[Rhys]

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

"Daily News reported that the equipment was faulty and that the necessary certification to operate such a business was not in order."

 

What a shocker.

 

People need to realise; if it has anything to do with safety equipment or training, don't do it in Thailand.

 Like the  THAI...sorry Dive Masters leaving their charges in the water because they can't find them, to the Zip Line Jungle Rides in Chieng Ride, and now the Parasailing adventure experience..... and to the GOVT officials suing newspapers using adjectives to describe a certain island that occassions negative outcomes.

 

LESSON:  Never, trust your life to someone else, when all there is a  fine and a simple wai and they are back in the saddle again.. to repeat   

 

Let's  The THAI  GOVT and Media spin this...