25th February 2025 – (Phuket) On 6th February, a tourist from Jiangxi, Ms Zhong, tragically drowned while snorkelling in Phuket, Thailand. Family members reported that she was declared brain dead the following day after being admitted to hospital, with her life supported by medical equipment.
According to eyewitness Mr Yang, who was part of the same tour group as Ms Zhong, the group had travelled to Egg Island, where various water activities were available. He noted that while the areas for jet skiing and snorkelling were meant to be separate, there was a risk of overlap, allowing jet skis to easily enter snorkelling zones.
After arriving at the island, the group began their activities, only for two French tourists to discover Ms Zhong ten minutes later while snorkelling. They alerted local responders, who performed CPR before transporting her by boat to a hospital in Phuket.
Due to language barriers, Mr Yang communicated in English with the French tourists, who indicated they had heard a “thud” sound, suggesting a possible collision with a jet ski. However, a Thai individual present claimed that the sound was made when he jumped into the water to rescue her.
The Thai witness provided his contact details and expressed a desire to assist Ms Zhong’s family. Meanwhile, the French tourists also left their email addresses for further communication.
Family members have since contacted Mr Yang and received information about the incident. They are now working with a Thai translator to reach out to the individual operating the jet ski at the time of the accident.
Upon examination, it was noted that Ms Zhong had sustained bruises on her shoulder, arms, and calves, initially thought to be from the rescue efforts. However, nurses later indicated that some injuries appeared to have occurred days after the incident, complicating the situation further.
As of 13th February, Ms Zhong was transferred to a public hospital, where she was diagnosed as brain dead following a CT scan. Her family has been negotiating with responsible parties regarding medical costs amounting to 500,000 Thai baht and death compensation of 1 million baht, with the other party asserting they had fulfilled their duty to inform about potential risks.
The family expressed frustration that the tour company had not mentioned the possibility of a jet ski collision until they spoke with Mr Yang. They are eager to connect with the two French witnesses to gain a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding Ms Zhong’s condition in the water.