The Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai-MECC 3), based at the Royal Thai Navy Third Naval Area Command at Cape Panwa, was alerted to the accident at about 7am by the Phuket Port In-Port Out (PIPO) Centre.
The captain of the fishing vessel ‘Kiang Chai 3’ reported that one of his crew had suffered a serious head injury after slipping on deck during stormy conditions. The injured man was identified as Mr Shan Min Htwe, 36, a Myanmar national who worked as the boat’s mechanic.
Vice Admiral Veerudom Muangchin, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command and Director of Thai-MECC 3, immediately ordered the high-speed operation vessel 4012 and an emergency medical team from the 1669 service to provide urgent assistance.
At 9:40am, the rescue vessel reached the ‘Kiang Chai 3’, which was located east of Koh Racha Yai at coordinates 7°29.720’ N, 98°34.890’ E ‒ about 21 nautical miles from Cape Panwa.
However, by the time the Thai-MECC team arrived, Mr Shan had already died from his injuries. His body was transferred to the Navy vessel and brought ashore at Phuket Deep Sea Port, then handed over to an emergency medical team for transport to Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Thai-MECC 3 reported that the ‘Kiang Chai 3’ had begun heading back to port after the accident, but experienced a mechanical failure at sea. The towboat ‘Phichai Samut 1’ was dispatched to assist, while Thai-MECC 3 coordinated the retrieval of the deceased crewman.
Authorities have notified the relevant agencies to follow standard procedures for reporting the incident and providing assistance to the victim’s employer and family, Thai MECC 3 noted.
Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub