Phuket parasail operator shells out 400,000 baht to injured Chinese tourist

A Thai parasailing operator agreed to pay a Chinese tourist 400,000 baht in compensation after she broke her leg in a parasailing accident on Karon Beach in Phuket on Saturday, February 24. The operator blamed the accident on a change in wind direction and insisted they adhered to strict safety measures.

The Chinese woman, Nadahan, took to social media to express her dissatisfaction regarding the inadequate safety measures provided by the parasail service provider after the accident. The woman also criticised the hospital she was admitted to for lacking the necessary equipment to treat her injury.

Nadahan accused Thai business operators of prioritising money over tourist safety. She claimed that the parasail operator also refused to adequately compensate her, offering only 50,000 baht despite a treatment cost of 200,000 baht.

Nadahan’s story attracted the attention of both Chinese and Thai netizens, prompting the intervention of the Phuket Marine Office. The Director of the Phuket Marine Office, Natchapong Pranit, visited Nadahan in hospital yesterday, February 28, to discuss the accident in detail.

Natchapong stressed that the province takes the safety of tourists seriously and that there are training courses for extreme and water sports operators in the area. He assured the Chinese woman that he would facilitate the compensation agreement and that relevant departments would investigate the cause of the accident.

Change of wind

The parasailing operator, a Thai man named Kanchit Thamsuea, also visited the hospital to provide his perspective. He is the owner of Nong Pleng Pleng Sea Sport, a water sports service, and was present at the scene during the accident.

Kanchit clarified that Nadahan and her friend were parasailing together under the supervision of his team. The staff safely guided the two tourists towards the ground but a sudden change in wind direction, just 2 metres from the ground, led to loss of control and the subsequent fall.

Emphasising the importance of stringent safety measures, Kanchit stressed that his team meticulously inspected the equipment and monitored wind direction before each launch. With more than 10 staff members on standby at all times, their priority was ensuring the safety of their customers.

Kanchit denied the existence of repeated parasailing accidents mentioned by Nadahan, asserting that this was the first incident in his 10 years of operating the service.

Kanchit clarified that he had not refused compensation and had been supporting Nadahan’s treatment since the beginning. Contrary to her statement, he did not offer her only 50,000 baht. He believed this misinformation arose from miscommunication and a language barrier.

According to a report by Phuket Hotnews yesterday evening, Nadahan initially sought 500,000 baht in compensation, with 120,000 baht designated for her medical expenses. Following negotiations, Kanchit agreed to a reduced amount of 400,000 baht, which Nadahan accepted.

The parasailing operator paid 120,000 baht yesterday and will transfer the remaining amount later. Nadahan’s condition improved, and she returned to China via Phuket International Airport yesterday.

ORIGINAL STORY: Chinese tourist blasts parasail operators for profit-over-safety ethos

The Thai government’s plan to boost tourism faces another tough challenge after a Chinese woman, who suffered a broken leg while parasailing in Phuket, condemned Thai service providers for putting money before safety. She said, “Business operators in Thailand only saw a foreign tourist like me as a source of income.”

The Chinese woman, identified as Nadahan on social media, recounted the parasailing accident in Phuket in a video shared on her Douyin account yesterday, February 27. Nadahan appeared in the video wearing a hospital gown, and sitting on a patient’s bed. However, it was not clear whether she was in a hospital in Thailand or China.

Nadahan explained that the accident took place on February 24 at Karon Beach in Phuket. She saw a parasailing service provider on the beach and expressed an interest in trying it out.

Nadahan mentioned that the staff promptly attended to her needs, yet they omitted to train her in the sport or issue any warnings. Despite her request for time to clarify queries about parasailing, the staff disregarded her and insisted she start parasailing immediately.

“Safe, safe. Hurry, hurry.”

Nadahan started parasailing and everything went well during the takeoff. Unfortunately, the accident happened when she was landing. The parasailing contraption went out of control and her left leg hit the ground hard.

Her left shin broke, exposing the bone. Parasailing operators rushed to give her first aid and contacted the hospital. Due to the heavy traffic in the area, Nadahan arrived at the hospital very late, about two hours after the accident.

Hospital drama

According to the Chinese woman, the situation became worse when the hospital did not have the equipment to treat her. About five to six hours after the accident, she was transferred to another clinic, Mission Hospital Phuket, where she underwent surgery.

Nadahan revealed that the doctor inserted an iron rod into her leg, causing a 15-centimetre-long wound on her leg.

According to Nadahan’s interpreter, the Thai parasailing operator was furious with her and accused her of faking a serious injury for money. The operator did not believe the CT scan results until Nadahan showed the operator her wound.

Nadahan said that she demanded 200,000 baht in compensation because the cost of treatment was around 150,000 baht but the provider insisted on paying her only 50,000 baht. She did not disclose whether or not she received the requested amount.

Nadahan warned others, especially foreign tourists in Thailand, to avoid extreme sports in Thailand. She said she saw no locals participating in these sports on the beach. She only saw foreigners, mostly Chinese, who paid to do the sports.

“Thai business operators only saw a foreign tourist like me as a source of income. They do not care about our lives and safety. ”

Headline news

Nadahan further remarked that the parasailing operator informed her that accidents occur every year but seldom make headlines in the news. This revelation led her to the realisation that Thai operators persist in offering the service to tourists without enhancing safety protocols, seemingly unaffected by past incidents.

In the comments section, Nadahan disclosed that the Thai Tourist Police contacted her regarding the accident and pledged to investigate the case on her behalf. She queried the Thai authorities whether she would receive assistance if her video failed to gain traction on social media.