Boat propeller slices British diving student’s leg near Koh Tao

PHUKET: A British diving student is in hospital in Koh Samui after her leg was nearly severed by a boat propeller while diving near Koh Tao.

Alice Louise Davies, 20, had just completed a dive with Scuba Shack near Koh Hin Sam Kon on Tuesday afternoon and was about to exit the water when the accident happened.

“A motorboat, Thanicha Namchok, from dive company Roctopus, was carrying diving equipment and had been stuck on some rocks very close to where Ms Davies and her class were getting out of the water,” said Lt Col Napa Senatip of the Koh Tao Police.

“Boonrod Klubnak, the motorboat driver, was trying to free the boat by speeding up the engine, and Ms Davies was sucked into the propeller blade by the force of the engine.”

She was taken to a clinic on Koh Tao for initial treatment before being transferred to Thai International Hospital on Koh Samui by speedboat at about 10:30 that night, said Col Napa.

“The propeller broke both of the bones in her lower right leg, but the leg was not severed. She was in surgery for many hours, but it went well and she is now stable,” he said.

“We are waiting for an official report from the hospital before we press any charges,” Col Napa said.

There may have been attempts by local people, initially, to cover up the accident.

Col Napa said he wants this case to serve as an example of ‘poor communication’ between authorities, and has urged all officials to act faster in emergency situations.

“We were not immediately informed of this accident. These types of accidents must not be kept from us,” he said.

“We will call together all rescue workers and relevant authorities on Koh Tao to make it understood how important quick and efficient communication is.”

— Suchat Hankij