The incident occurred at about 10:30am while officers from Marine Police Region 3, Division 8, were conducting a crime suppression patrol in Ratsada, on Phuket’s east coast.
While officers were conducting their patrol, a foreign female tourist screamed as she fell from the back of the tour speedboat while she was trying to climb aboard.
The woman landed on the sand, but the boat started moving backwards, with the propellers approaching dangerously close to her.
The boat’s engine was not on and the propellers were not engaged, but with the woman in clear danger, the officers rushed to render assistance, as did other tourists standing by and the boat crew.
The tourist was brought safely ashore and treated for minor injuries.
After ensuring the woman’s safety, police inspected the boat and questioned the operator, identified only as ‘Mr Tharawut’, who was unable to present a certificate of competence or a valid boat operating licence.
Tharawut was subsequently charged with operating a vessel without the required certification and licence, in violation of Section 150 of the Thai Maritime Navigation Act, Marine Police confirmed.