Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Local Hua Hin and regional Thailand news articles and discussion.
User avatar
Big Boy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 44954
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:36 pm
Location: Bon Kai

Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by Big Boy »

I'm reading unsubstantiated reports in several places on social media that despite Hua Hin beach being closed, a regular kite surfer defied the instruction, and has died as a result. There was no supervision to assist him due to the closure.

RIP
Championship Plymouth Argyle 0 - 1 Preston NE :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Points 41; Position 18
User avatar
StevePIraq
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3043
Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2008 1:21 pm
Location: Ting Tong Land

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by StevePIraq »

It is reported in Bangkok Post, very sad.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box

PRACHUAP KHIRIKHAN: An 43-year-old Irish kitesurfer drowned in heavy surf off Hua Hin beach after his control line became entangled with a buoy on Wednesday. The accident occurred shortly after middayat the beach near Soi Hua Hin 77 in Hua Hin district. Rescuers who pulled him unconscious from the sea tried to resuscitate him for at least 10 minutes, to no avail.
"Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you're going to be right." Muhammad Ali
User avatar
Blacky
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 232
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 12:21 pm
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by Blacky »

RIP Jonathan...he was my best friend in Hua Hin who had everything going for himself. One of the best...absolutely heartbroken!
_____________________________________________________________________
I believe that everyone else my age is an adult whereas I am merely in disguise
User avatar
PeteC
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 29924
Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 7:58 am
Location: All Blacks training camp

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by PeteC »

I'm sorry for your loss Blacky :( Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
User avatar
Blacky
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 232
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 12:21 pm
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by Blacky »

Thank you PeteC...
_____________________________________________________________________
I believe that everyone else my age is an adult whereas I am merely in disguise
HHCanuck
Professional
Professional
Posts: 288
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 6:45 pm
Contact:

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by HHCanuck »

RIP. My wife is freaked out about it as yesterday we were riding through Khao Kalok and she asked me if it was dangerous for the people kite surfing. I told her I know nothing about it and when we got home I read the news to her.
Scout
Professional
Professional
Posts: 431
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:05 am

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by Scout »

I’ve been kiting here for years and was appalled a few weeks ago to see the city of Hua Hin had installed this buoy system the entire length of the beach. I kited only once since then, nearly got tangled in the line of buoys and have not been out since then. I know a couple other liters that have become tangled with the buoy system. There have been numerous conversations among the people kiting that it is only a matter of time until someone dies because of this ill-conceived buoy system idea. Sadly that is now true. How many other people will die before the city removes this deadly hazard ?
User avatar
Nereus
Hero
Hero
Posts: 10869
Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:01 pm
Location: Hua Hin and Bangkok

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by Nereus »

Very sorry to hear about this. Condolences to his friends and family. R.I.P.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
User avatar
Big Boy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 44954
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:36 pm
Location: Bon Kai

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by Big Boy »

Image

Please keep this thread respectful about the incident. I've moved the post discussing safety here viewtopic.php?f=4&t=35724
Championship Plymouth Argyle 0 - 1 Preston NE :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Points 41; Position 18
Scout
Professional
Professional
Posts: 431
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:05 am

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by Scout »

Irish kitesurfer a victim of Hua Hin’s perverse tourism drive
Bad weather did not kill the Irish kitesurfer in Hua Hin – as the police have implied – but the buoys installed by the municipal authorities a month earlier.

The buoys were supposedly installed to protect swimmers. How? A week before, under normal weather, a German kitesurfer almost drowned after being entangled in the buoys. It seems that in an endeavour to promote tourism the local authorities are systematically using the wrong initiatives. While Hua Hin is a popular kitesurfing destination it also seems that authorities are trying their best to discourage the proliferation of this sport.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... y/30334612
User avatar
aragon
Professional
Professional
Posts: 438
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:12 pm
Location: The (Not So) Magic Kingdom

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by aragon »

Whatever the cause of this unfortunate chaps sad demise, be it the weather (and if the beach was closed then he really shouldn't have been out there) or the buoys; as others have intimated, there really needs to be a separation between areas for swimmers and those for kite surfers.

"The buoys were supposedly installed to protect swimmers. How? A week before, under normal weather, a German kitesurfer almost drowned after being entangled in the buoys."

I think that comment encapsulates the problem in a nutshell; the buoys are for swimmers protection, not kite surfers, who should stay well away from the area enclosed by them, then they wouldn't have any chance of becoming entangled.

It's unfortunate, but some people's misguided sense of entitlement can and does create problems for themselves and others. Hua Hin has 7kms of beach, surely that should be more than enough for everyone to enjoy whatever it is that rocks their boat, so long as they are responsible and responsive to those around them.
“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” Sir Winston Churchill

Life isn't like a bowl of cherries or peaches, it's more like a jar of Jalapenos--what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow......
europtimiste
Banned
Banned
Posts: 1395
Joined: Thu May 08, 2014 12:19 pm

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by europtimiste »

Jesse wrote: Sat Dec 23, 2017 8:15 am Irish kitesurfer a victim of Hua Hin’s perverse tourism drive
Bad weather did not kill the Irish kitesurfer in Hua Hin – as the police have implied – but the buoys installed by the municipal authorities a month earlier.

Do not blame buoys, they are for protection of swimmers. Kite surfers have to enjoy their sport off this area. If they are too close, and they have an accident it's their own stupidity. Same as people drowning when beach is closed for swimmers.
Stargeezer
Professional
Professional
Posts: 461
Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2013 7:30 am
Location: Canada

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by Stargeezer »

As a non Kite Surfer who enjoys walking the Hua Hin Beach area I would suggest that
the surfers move further south. The swimmers have no chance to avoid the surfers if they speed into
the swimming areas, and all parties realise this. Good luck to all that use and enjoy this area, and RIP
to the surfer who lost his life due to the buoys. Happy high tourist season and I hope the rest of the
Winter weather will be great after this latest rain period.
Geezer
Pluto is my favorite planet!, especially now that we all can see close up
pictures of it.
User avatar
404cameljockey
Ace
Ace
Posts: 1780
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2016 5:14 am

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by 404cameljockey »

People, Big Boy moved the discussion about safety too another thread, see just five posts above. Please post there. This thread should just be for condolences or specific comments about this incident, not where people should kite surf or the effectiveness of buoys. Cheers.
PET
Legend
Legend
Posts: 2120
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:24 pm
Location: Hua Hin

Re: Kite Surfer Dies Off Hua Hin Beach

Post by PET »

Stargeezer wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2017 12:03 pm As a non Kite Surfer who enjoys walking the Hua Hin Beach area I would suggest that
the surfers move further south. The swimmers have no chance to avoid the surfers if they speed into
the swimming areas, and all parties realise this. Good luck to all that use and enjoy this area, and RIP
to the surfer who lost his life due to the buoys. Happy high tourist season and I hope the rest of the
Winter weather will be great after this latest rain period.
Geezer
Wellsaid Staqrgeezzer it is pure common sense of course.
Courage is grace under pressure and when circumstances change you change your mind.
Post Reply