Tourist Police have confirmed that a foreign couple escaped major injury after their sailboat crashed on rocks at Freedom Beach, on Phuket’s west coast, during a storm on Wednesday.
The man was identified as Viacheslav Vasilev, 63, born in Russia while the woman has not yet been identified by police. In fact, the police are not sure where on the island they are or if they got medical attention after the crash.
Capt. Ekkachai Siri, of the Phuket Tourist Police confirmed on Friday that he was aware of the incident.
“Both foreigners are safe, be assured,” he said. Though it is unknown how he has that information.
Capt. Ekkachai declined to give more details, although the man and woman pictured in the photographs in the initial report by Tourist Police shows the man holding a Russian passport.
The officer also noted that the boat crashed on the rocks has the name “Ekamp” written in Cyrillic letters on its’ bow.
Initial reports said that a rescue team from Royal Thai Navy based at Kata Beach rendered assistance, but calls to the rescue center went unanswered.
Meanwhile, Marine Police said they were aware of the couple and their boat, but said they knew of no other details.
The officers did not confirm whether or not any of their own Marine Police officers had even made contact with the couple.
Karon and Patong Police also said they knew nothing of the couple or of the stricken boat. The dispatch officers at both of those police stations confirmed they had not received any reports about any boats washing up on rocks within their areas of jurisdiction.
Story: The Phuket News
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