PATTAYA — Thai Officials have concluded that the cause of an Indian tourist fainting after participating in a Sea Walker coral viewing on July 1 was due to a pre-existing medical condition. Fortunately, the crew on the boat was able to perform CPR and save him.
On July 4, Wuttipong Wong-in, Director of Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Section 2, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, inspected the boat “Tong Samut 8” that took tourists for Sea Walker coral viewing near the Marine Hazard Prevention Center at Bali Hai Pier, Pattaya.
Chuchai Ponsida, 37, the boat owner’s assistant, recounted that on the day of the incident, around noon, a group of about 20 Indian tourists came as a family group. Of these, 7-8 people volunteered to dive and view the coral.
Everyone passed initial screening for age and pre-existing conditions. They were questioned thoroughly before diving. All participants dove normally, accompanied by underwater guards who regularly checked on everyone’s condition.
While walking underwater to view the coral, everyone seemed fine, with no signs of distress. This was evident from the underwater camera footage provided by the boat service, which showed the Indian tourist who later fainted still behaving normally and waving at the camera.
After the dive, which lasted no more than 15 minutes per person, the Indian man sat down to rest and drink water while waiting for his family. Suddenly, he leaned over and collapsed on the floor.
Wuttipong continued that at this point, the crew immediately checked his pulse and performed CPR. The man’s son, who had just come up from the water, was shocked and asked to perform CPR on his father. The son pressed on his father’s chest so hard, causing blood to come out of the father’s mouth. They quickly took the boat to Koh Larn Hospital before transferring the patient to a hospital in Pattaya city.
Sorawat Pinchusri, 54, the boat owner, explained that he has been operating the Sea Walker business for over 20 years and has never experienced such an incident. His crew members took full care of the Indian man, who is now safe and conscious. The medical team attributed the cause to his pre-existing medical condition.
“Our boat already has strict measures for screening, including age, time, and pre-existing conditions. We don’t allow people with medical conditions to go underwater due to the higher pressure. However, this tourist didn’t disclose his condition, probably wanting to enjoy the underwater experience with his family,” he said.
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