Japanese tourist dies in Phuket boating accident

PHUKET: A Japanese woman on holiday in Phuket died this afternoon after she was struck by the propeller of the dive boat she was on tour with.

Chalong Police Duty Officer Attawat Suwannarat told the Gazette the police were notified of the accident at about 4pm.

The name of the woman, aged 22, is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Capt Attawat said the woman was on a dive tour off Racha Noi island when the accident happened.

She had booked the tour with her male travelling companion earlier today, he said.

The couple were were staying at a hotel in Patong, he added.

Capt Attawat said the woman’s body was recovered from the dive boat after it returned to Chalong Pier and taken to Wachira Phuket Hospital.

Police are investigating the series of events that led to the woman’s death, he said.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan