Canadian tourists rescued after speedboat capsizes

PHUKET: Two Canadian tourists were safely rescued after their speedboat capsized off Krabi yesterday afternoon.

The boat overturned near Koh Dang and Hang Nak Cape, to the west of the tourist-popular beach resort town of Ao Nang.

The two tourists and their Thai driver were safely rescued by a nearby fishing boat.

“We were fishing around Koh Dang, and a speedboat heading to Koh Hong hit waves that were too big, causing the boat to flip over,” said Sataya Seksan, 29, captain of the fishing boat.

“Luckily I saw it and we rescued them all quickly.”

The boat driver and the tourists requested to be brought to ashore at Noppharat Thara Beach, Mr Sataya explained.

“We arrived at the scene after the tourists and boat owner had already left, therefore we questioned Mr Sataya,” noted Maj Anurak Parinyasathiragul of the Krabi Marine Police.

Marine police are now searching for the owner of the boat, which Mr Sataya said was unnamed but from Klong Muang Beach nearby, in order to check for their license.

“If the boat is properly registered, we will not charge the driver with anything as this seems to be only an accident and the tourists were not injured,” Maj Anurak added.

— Kongleaphy Keam