Rescue workers resumed their search today (Tuesday) for a Russian tourist who went missing after he and his Thai girlfriend were struck by a speed boat near a beach on Koh Larn, off Pattaya bay, late Monday afternoon.
The body of the Russian’s girlfriend, only identified as “Narada”, was found floating in the sea. Wounds on the body indicated that she had been hit by a propeller.
The skipper of the speed boat, 19-year-old Thawatchai Chompphupuang, was taken into custody by Pattaya police and has initially been charged with negligence causing death to another.
Thawatchai reportedly claimed that he didn’t know that his boat had hit the two people.
Pattaya police inspector, Pol Lt-Col Chainarong Chitsunthorn, said the Russian tourist, identified as Enrike Rakhman, arrived in Thailand on August 11th and had just checked out of a resort on Koh Larn. He and his girlfriend then rented a motorcycle to Tian beach for a swim, which is when they were struck by a speed boat.
Pattaya vice mayor, Manote Nongyai, said that boats are not currently allowed to approach Tian beach, because mooring buoys have not yet been installed.
He said he will seek cooperation from boat operators by docking only at the pier designated by Pattaya City’s administration.
