(3 October) Speedboat accidents in Pattaya claimed a new fatality, as an Indian tourist had been decapitated by a boat′s engines after she fell into the sea.
Reports say the tourist had been para-sailing with a speedboat when the wind suddenly changed direction, causing her to fall into the water. The speedboat engine then reportedly dragged both the parachute and the body of the tourist underneath its engine, killing the victim instantly.
The tourist has been identified as Ms. Shilpi Agarwal, a 36-year-old Indian national.
The speedboat driver told police he was in fact trying to help the tourist by pulling back the boat to lift her up from the water. Unfortunately, the motor ended up killing the tourist.
The Marine Department has previously stated that many boat owners in Pattaya fail to appoint skillful drivers to provide the service, despite the fact that the boats have been registered for commercial purpose, serving many tourists.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Somsak Pureesrisak, said that the incident had affected tourists? confidence in Thailand’s tourism safety.
He also vowed to tackle the issues of repeated speedboat accidents in popular tourist attractions.
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