Phuket divers discover body of second Korean tourist killed in speedboat crash
PHUKET: Search and rescue divers today are recovering a second body from the wreckage of the speedboat that sank in Phang Nga Bay, east of Phuket, after crashing into a fishing trawler Sunday afternoon.
The body was identified by Phuket Marine Police as Korean national Ko Min Woo, 31.
About an hour earlier, divers found and began to recover the body of Korean national An Sun Yong, 28 (story here).
Search teams have been scouring the Andaman Sea’s surface for the two missing Koreans since their speedboat, returning from Maya Bay, crashed into a fishing trawler about 11 kilometers from Koh Yao Noi at about 5:30pm on Sunday.
The trawler, which suffered only minor damage in the crash, carried the six speedboat crew members and 35 tourists of varying nationalities – including Australians, Chinese, French, Japanese and British – to safety after the collision (video report here).
The speedboat driver, Surat Matosot, is expected to face charges for reckless driving resulting in death. He told police that he had taken his eyes off the water to remove a black plastic bag from under his chair, and was unable to avoid hitting the fishing boat once he returned to the helm (story here).
— Chutharat Plerin
