PHUKET — The Royal Thai Navy’s Third Area Command rescued four foreign tourists stranded on a cliff area of Maiton Island late Thursday night after their speedboat ran aground on rocks.
Vice Adm. Weerudom Muangjin, commander of the Third Naval Area and director of the Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 3, ordered an immediate rescue operation after receiving a distress call around 6:45 p.m. from a Russian man, who reported that his companion had grounded their speedboat behind Maiton Island, about 4.6 nautical miles southeast of the navy pier in Phuket.
The four tourists, all Russian nationals, had reached the island safely but were trapped on a steep rocky slope, and their speedboat was unable to move.
At 7:30 p.m. on November 6, patrol boat Tor 272 departed from the naval pier with a rescue team from the Navy’s Marine Security Division. Upon arrival, rescuers found the tourists safe but unable to be reached due to strong waves and hazardous rocks. The team instructed them to remain calm and wait for further assistance.
The vessel then returned to base to pick up a special operations team equipped with inflatable rafts, ropes, life vests, lights, food, and drinking water. The team set out again and reached the island around 10:50 p.m.
Working in darkness and rough seas, the rescue team paddled inflatable boats to reach the tourists and successfully brought all four aboard Tor 272 safely. They were provided with food and water during the return trip.
The navy coordinated with medical personnel, police, and tourism assistance officials to receive the tourists at the naval pier. Rear Adm. Sataporn Wajaratrat, chief of staff of the Third Naval Area, and related agencies met them upon arrival at 12:10 a.m. Friday.
All four tourists, Ms. Elena, Ms. Kristina, Mr. Alexie, and Mr. Vsevolod, were reported safe, though slightly fatigued. One female tourist was treated for shock. No navy personnel were injured, and no government equipment was damaged during the operation.
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