Tourist brain damaged in boat collision
A female Chinese tourist is recovering after sustaining a critical head injury when the boat taking her and five relatives to Ampawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram collided with another boat in Khlong Noi on Saturday.
The tourist was expected to remain in intensive care as of press time. The family and Thai authorities expect that the two boat owners would split the costs of medical expenses.
The six Chinese tourists got on the boat from Ratchaburi-based Damnoen Saduak Floating Market to visit the Samut Songkhram’s Ampawa Floating Market when the collision took place. Wang Xiu Ping, 35, was injured, along with one relative. Wang sustained a serious head injury, leaving her unconscious and unable to breathe by herself.
Somdej Phraphutthaloetla Hospital deputy director Dr Watchara Chancharoenkij said on Sunday that Wang was recovering. Her neurological and brain signals were improving and she was able to occasionally breathe by herself.
A tourist-police interpreter was helping the family communicate with doctors about Wang’s condition. The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market boat operators’ association representatives have also had discussions with the family.
All parties have agreed that Wang should be sent for further treatment at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn Hospital. Owners of the two boats involved in the collision would pay expenses. Police were still investigating the cause of collision.