Thailand News - Aussie’s extradition sought after jet-ski death

steve@thaib · #1 02-02-2006, 02:34

Aussie’s extradition sought after jet-ski death

KAMALA: Kathu Police are to seek the extradition of an Australian in connection with the death of a Thai man, allegedly killed by a jet-ski while spearfishing near Laem Hin on January 25.

Kathu Police Superintendent Pol Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen today told the Gazette that the Australian, a 29-year-old tourist, was questioned after the incident but was released because of lack of evidence. The Australian had since left the country.

But Col Theeraphol said police now have a witness who saw the Australian in the water near the victim. The Australian was then seen to get back on the jet-ski and leave the area.

Kathu Police will now forward the case to the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police, he said.

Kathu Police Deputy Superintendent Pol Lt Col Chaowalit Niemwadee earlier identified the victim as Nikon Nachaiya, 28, from Cherng Talay.

K. Nikorn, who was wearing a diving mask, was found by lifeguards, floating unconscious in the water off Laem Singh, Kamala. He was rushed to Patong Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, Col Chaowalit said.

A nurse at Patong Hospital told the Gazette that a report on the examination of K. Nikhon’s body listed the cause of death as “drowning”.

Col Chaowalit told the Gazette that when police questioned the Australian soon after the accident, he admitted to having rented a jet-ski, but denied hitting anyone.

The man who rented the jet-ski to him backed up the Australian’s story, saying that the vessel was undamaged and had been returned before the accident occurred.

About 50 people attended funeral services for K. Nikhon on Monday. Among them was P amela Wetzell, a Director of Development Management Group, who employed K. Nikhon as a messenger and driver.

“He was a great guy – always smiling. Very sweet,” she told the Gazette.

She said that K. Nikhon and his wife also worked as live-in help for a man living in the hills between Kamala and Surin. The couple had a three-year-old son and K. Nikhon’s wife is now pregnant with the couple’s second child, she added.

The victim’s hobby was spearfishing and he was out doing this to get food for his employer’s dinner at the time of the accident, Mrs Wetzell said.

“I hope this will galvanize local authorities to finally take action against jet-skis,” she added.

Rented jet-skis have been involved in numerous accidents in recent years, some of them fatal, but this is thought to be the first in which a swimmer was killed by one.

Strictly speaking, jet-skis may be operated in Thai waters only by people holding a valid Thai sea captain’s license, but this regulation has never been enforced in Phuket.

Although the machines are a common cause of complaint among tourists, officials have consistently failed to regulate the Phuket jet-ski rental industry.

Brought to you by:
The Phuket Gazette

steve@thaib · #2 02-02-2006, 02:36

It always surprises me that there are not more jetski accidents

Rizzamabob · #3 02-02-2006, 04:44

So do you think he did it ??
He could have payed of the jet ski owner, and the jet ski to a head isn't going to damage it that much, especially since there would be a wound to his head which the doctors could see

steve@thaib · #4 02-02-2006, 06:24

I think that the big deal here is that a Thai is the victim. Who knows what happened?

nelsonone · #5 02-02-2006, 06:40

Been watching and waiting for this to happen.......now how about a ban on these pesky and letahl pieces of cr@p?????

seafox · #6 02-02-2006, 06:45

Just as an example of what could have happened to the Thai spearfisherman and not to divert the investigation, but spearfisherman can get shallow water blackout and die from that.

Shallow water blackout can occur when a breathe hold diver(BHD) stays down too long. The body actually plays a trick on itself. The thing that makes you breathe is not a lack of oxygen but an excess of CO2, carbon dioxide. When a BHD goes underwater the air in his lungs is compressed. If he goes to 33'(10 meters) his lungs now have only 1/2 the volume that they did at the surface, while still having the same amount of air in them. As the CO2 level builds up in the body, there is no warning while the diver is at depth because the volume in his lungs is less than before. As the BHD goes to the surface the volume in his lungs increases(doubles from 33'(10 meters) to the surface and so does the CO2 level. If the BHD has stayed down too long, he will start feeling the need to breathe but if he is underwater he will not be able to. If the CO2 level gets too high, the body will protect itself by shutting down motor functions to save the brain and major organs, meaning that his arms and legs will stop propelling him to the surface. The BHD will pass out and if he is underwater when this happens and no one is around he will die unless he ends up face up on the surface, and even then he still has to start breathing again while unconscious.

steve@thaib · #7 02-02-2006, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelsonone

Been watching and waiting for this to happen.......now how about a ban on these pesky and letahl pieces of cr@p?????

There has been a campaign for as long as I can remember to get rid of them from Patong. I remember the C&N hotel asking us to sign a petition in 1998 (they used to have a cordoned off swimmimg\peeing area then too)

steve@thaib · #8 02-02-2006, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by seafox

Just as an example of what could have happened to the Thai spearfisherman and not to divert the investigation, but spearfisherman can get shallow water blackout and die from that.

Shallow water blackout can occur when a breathe hold diver(BHD) stays down too long. The body actually plays a trick on itself. The thing that makes you breathe is not a lack of oxygen but an excess of CO2, carbon dioxide. When a BHD goes underwater the air in his lungs is compressed. If he goes to 33'(10 meters) his lungs now have only 1/2 the volume that they did at the surface, while still having the same amount of air in them. As the CO2 level builds up in the body, there is no warning while the diver is at depth because the volume in his lungs is less than before. As the BHD goes to the surface the volume in his lungs increases(doubles from 33'(10 meters) to the surface and so does the CO2 level. If the BHD has stayed down too long, he will start feeling the need to breathe but if he is underwater he will not be able to. If the CO2 level gets too high, the body will protect itself by shutting down motor functions to save the brain and major organs, meaning that his arms and legs will stop propelling him to the surface. The BHD will pass out and if he is underwater when this happens and no one is around he will die unless he ends up face up on the surface, and even then he still has to start breathing again while unconscious.

So he could well have drowned?

seafox · #9 02-02-2006, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

So he could well have drowned?

Yes. Or the jet ski could have hit him or maybe went over him while he was coming up and he could not get to the surface in time to take a breathe.

Most really experienced free divers will take their weight belt off on a dive where they have pushed their limits and hold onto it on the way up so that if they pass out they drop the weight belt and then float up to the surface. A lot of spearfisherman dive dive with a buddy so that if one gets shallow water blackout on the way up the other one will see it and go down and rescue him.

Expat · #10 03-02-2006, 09:33

It turns out the police made a mistake in the report and the guy was Austrian NOT Australian - The story has been modified.

Mav · #11 03-02-2006, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expat

It turns out the police made a mistake in the report and the guy was Austrian NOT Australian - The story has been modified.

Oh a Dumb and Dumber type mix up !

bman · #12 05-02-2006, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav

Oh a Dumb and Dumber type mix up !

to clear up what I can, about this incident. I was with the Austrian at the Police Station and he was treated very fairly. Two Tourist Police Volunteers were call in to help with the language problem ( as he did not speak English or Thai). I can not make any statements on the case because of the ongoing investigation. I can tell you a fair investigation was done at the time and he was treated very well by the Thai Goverment. The Police knew is Nationality, they had his passport. bman

Mav · #13 05-02-2006, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by bman

to clear up what I can, about this incident. I was with the Austrian at the Police Station and he was treated very fairly. Two Tourist Police Volunteers were call in to help with the language problem ( as he did not speak English or Thai). I can not make any statements on the case because of the ongoing investigation. I can tell you a fair investigation was done at the time and he was treated very well by the Thai Goverment. The Police knew is Nationality, they had his passport. bman

I was actually referring to the movie...u know when the good looking Austrian hitchiker girl tells Jim Carey she is Austrian, and he reply's "G'Day Mate...put another srimp on the barbie".....u remember it....no....fcuk

Ok, back to serious mode.