Police from Phi Phi Island confirmed today that two dive instructors have been charged with negligence over the death of Indian tourist Alok Kumar Shukla, who drowned during his first ever scuba diving trip on Sunday.
“We have charged two of the diving instructors present when the incident occurred with negligence,” Lt. Kanakorn Tamakhan, of Phi Phi Island police, said yesterday.
“Shukla had not taken off his diving weights, which weighed about 4 kilograms, when the incident took place. However, we can confirm that he had taken off his equipment,” he said.
“A large wave caused the boat to rock, this caused Shukla to fall into the water and drown due to the weights. Although those who saw him fall jumped into the water after him, the water was very deep and it took a while to find him,” he explained.
The hospital has conducted a preliminary examination of the body but are awaiting results of an internal examination to confirm that he died of drowning.
Lt. Kanakorn declined to name the two instructors charged.
Georg Kereit, manager of the dive company involved, which he asked not to be named, said, “We would like to express our deepest condolences to family and friends of Mr. Shukla, and I can confirm that we are working closely with police to manage this terrible accident.
“When the incident occurred the customer had returned to the boat and taken off his equipment. He was about to take off the weight belt when he fell overboard. Three people jumped in after him but could not locate him on the choppy surface, so three people went with scuba gear to find him,” said Kereit.
CPR was given to Shukla when he was removed from the water and he was given oxygen before arriving at the hospital.
“It is standard practice in scuba diving that when you get out of the water you go to a spot where you can sit down and your scuba cylinder will be secure. You then loosen shoulder and waist straps and get out of the unit. The next step is to stand up and remove your weight belt. After that you can get out of your wetsuit,” explained Kereit.
“So, procedure wise, it was normal. It was in this five second window while removing his weight belt that he fell,” he added.
In response to whether any regulations would be amended following the incident, Kereit said, “We need to see with the owner if further railings will be installed to limit the possible exits, and non-certified divers will probably not be allowed to sit on the outside facing side of the boat.”
Story: The Phuket News
