The speedboat, named the Nong Hongtae, was carrying three women and five men Chinese tourists when it struck a submerged rock one nautical mile off Koh Khai, reported Nitiphat Mongkulpradit, chief of the Krabi Tourist Rescue Centre.
The tourists were returning to Klong Muang in Krabi from a day trip to Phi Phi Island and had just departed sightseeing at Koh Khai when the boat hit the rock and began to quickly take on water, he said.
Capt Loh Wijidee beached the boat at Koh Khai and called Somporn Jan-on, the village headman at Nong Talay, in Klong Muang, Krabi, where the speedboat Nong Hongtae is based and was returning to.
“We received a call from Mr Somporn at 6:20pm and the Krabi Marine Police quickly sent boat with local rescue workers on board to recover the tourists, Capt Loh and his crew,” Mr Nitiphat said.
All 12 stranded on Koh Khai were safely recovered and returned to Nopparathara Beach.