On Tuesday (March 12) Chinese twins Wu You and Wu Lu, driving separate jet skis, crashed into each other, damaging both machines. They bargained the owner down from B90,000 to B45,000 for repairs.
The same day, another, who asked not to be named, crashed into the side of a yacht anchored in Patong Bay, damaging it so badly that only the engine could be salvaged. Amazingly, he was not hurt.
The jet ski owner initially demanded B300,000 to replace his machine, which the rider bargained down to B105,000. However, there was still the matter of the damage to the yacht.
There was also the matter of the tourist’s passport, which he had handed to the jet ski owner when he rented the machine, and which seemed to have disappeared.
The Haad-Yai-based Chinese Consul, Qin Jian, who became involved in the hunt for the passport, told The Phuket News today that he had delivered letters to the Damrongtham Foundation and to Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut, demanding that the passport, wherever it was, should be returned.
Police told The Phuket News that they did not have the passport, pointing out that they did not have the powers to take the passport of anyone who has not committed a crime.
Today, however, all was resolved. At a meeting in Kathu Police Station this afternoon, the Turkish owner of the yacht said he would have repairs done under his own insurance.
The passport, meanwhile was found – in the police station – and handed back to the tourist.