Phuket dive boat ‘did not capsize’

PHUKET: The dive boat that 27 people were safely recovered from yesterday evening is now back in Phuket, a source at the dive company who was on the boat told the Phuket Gazette this morning.

“The boat did not capsize. The bilge pump failed, so the captain pulled the boat into calm waters behind an island,” he said.

“We were not sure whether we could get the pump working again so as a precaution we called for assistance and sent out a speedboat to get the passengers safely back ashore.

“The Phuket Tourist Rescue Center also sent a boat to help, and this is probably where the misunderstanding that the boat had capsized arose,” he added.

The people on board were not in any danger, he said.

“Ten minutes after the speedboats had left Phuket to pick the customers up, the pump started working again, but we brought them back by speedboat anyway,” he said.

No people were injured in the incident.

“No one was in any danger. The worst anyone suffered was one guy cut his finger,” he said.