A Russian diver had his right leg slashed nearly right through by a speedboat propeller while another Russian suffered lesser, but serious, deep cuts during a dive trip at Phi Phi Lei Island yesterday morning.
Sergei Dmitriev, 30, and Dmitry Kuryanov, 48, were struck by the propeller of the speedboat Sunsan 2 when they resurfaced from their dive at Maya Bay around 10:30am, said Nitiphat Mongkolpradit of the Krabi Tourist Rescue Center.
One of the divers suffered less serious, but still deep, cuts to his legs.
“The captain of the dive boat who the two men were diving with said he took the tourists to Phi Phi Lei on a diving trip and let the divers into the water in pairs,” Nitiphat told The Phuket News.
“The divers floated up a buoy to warn people that they were surfacing, but when the two men floated their buoy, a speedboat came into the area to check what was going on.”
“That was when the two divers came up and were hit by the propeller,” he said.
Dmitriev and and Kuryanov were rushed to Phi Phi Hospital.
Police are investigating the incident.
“We have yet to question the victims about the incident because both were badly injured,” said Krabi police chief Col. Sompong Thip-arpakul.
“While at Phi Phi Hospital, the victims lost so much blood that they were transferred here to Krabi Hospital. Officers are questioning both speedboat and dive boat operators,” he added.
Krabi man Somchai Jitlang, who owns the Sunsan 2, has already presented himself to the police for questioning, Col. Sompong said.
Adisorn Benma, 22, who was driving the Sunsan 2 when the propeller slashed the divers has been taken to Phi Phi Police Station for questioning, he added.
Story: The Phuket News
