MoonWrasse
Contributor
Diver airlifted from Similians after fish attack
FROM PHUKET WITH LOVE: Rustem Teregulov, recovering in hospital after he was bitten by a fish, gives a thumbs up to the Royal Thai Navys medivac efforts.
PHUKET: Russian tourist Rustem Teregulov, 39, was airlifted by Royal Thai Navy helicopter from the Similian Islands to Phuket yesterday after he was bitten by a fish or possibly a moray eel while diving in the world-renowned national park.
Mr Teregulov today told the Gazette that he was diving off one of the smaller islands about 1:30 pm when the attack happened.
I saw some sand [shifting] like turbulence, and I swam very close and touched the bottom. Thats when a fish or something came out and bit me, Mr Teregulov said.
The bite had peeled open the top of his hand.
I didnt see the fish. I think it was a barracuda, he added.
Mr Teregulov, a Moscow businessman, surfaced and boarded the 32-meter power yacht he was diving from and received first aid. Rope was used as a tourniquet to stem the bleeding and his wound was bandaged, he said.
Vice-Admiral Supot Pruksa, of the Third Naval Command in Phuket, said that the Royal Thai Navy received the call for help about 1:55 pm.
However, the pilot could not land at the rendezvous point on Island No 4, better known as Koh Miang, until about 4:15 pm due to poor weather.
Mr Teregulov was flown to Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where he is staying for several days recovery and observation.
V/Adm Supot said that it was likely Mr Teregulov was bitten by a moray eel.
Mr Teregulov, a frequent visitor to Phuket, said the incident would not deter him from returning. Of course Ill be back, he laughed.
In April 2005, 32-year-old Matt Butcher of Stanstead, Essex, in England, had his left thumb bitten off and eaten by a giant moray eel while he was diving at the well-known East of Eden dive site in the Similan Islands.
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=5687
FROM PHUKET WITH LOVE: Rustem Teregulov, recovering in hospital after he was bitten by a fish, gives a thumbs up to the Royal Thai Navys medivac efforts.
PHUKET: Russian tourist Rustem Teregulov, 39, was airlifted by Royal Thai Navy helicopter from the Similian Islands to Phuket yesterday after he was bitten by a fish or possibly a moray eel while diving in the world-renowned national park.
Mr Teregulov today told the Gazette that he was diving off one of the smaller islands about 1:30 pm when the attack happened.
I saw some sand [shifting] like turbulence, and I swam very close and touched the bottom. Thats when a fish or something came out and bit me, Mr Teregulov said.
The bite had peeled open the top of his hand.
I didnt see the fish. I think it was a barracuda, he added.
Mr Teregulov, a Moscow businessman, surfaced and boarded the 32-meter power yacht he was diving from and received first aid. Rope was used as a tourniquet to stem the bleeding and his wound was bandaged, he said.
Vice-Admiral Supot Pruksa, of the Third Naval Command in Phuket, said that the Royal Thai Navy received the call for help about 1:55 pm.
However, the pilot could not land at the rendezvous point on Island No 4, better known as Koh Miang, until about 4:15 pm due to poor weather.
Mr Teregulov was flown to Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where he is staying for several days recovery and observation.
V/Adm Supot said that it was likely Mr Teregulov was bitten by a moray eel.
Mr Teregulov, a frequent visitor to Phuket, said the incident would not deter him from returning. Of course Ill be back, he laughed.
In April 2005, 32-year-old Matt Butcher of Stanstead, Essex, in England, had his left thumb bitten off and eaten by a giant moray eel while he was diving at the well-known East of Eden dive site in the Similan Islands.
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=5687