Swedish tourist dies while diving in Similan Islands

A 57 year old Swedish tourist died while diving in the Similan Islands on Monday.

She is believed to have suffered decompression sickness or the bends.

Kim Lien Pettersson was 25 metres down near Koh 8 when staff realized there was a problem. She was buddied up with her husband. She was thereafter brought up to 5 metres depth., reports Manager Online

Finally she surfaced and was given emergency treatment by medics but could not be saved. She died in her husband’s arms on board a ship called Arunsiri that belonged to the dive company.

She was a veteran of 184 dives, said Kuraburi police. The body was taken for autopsy to the local hospital to confirm the cause of death.

The local governor of Pangnga province called on local authorities to check that dive companies were all registered and following procedures in the wake of the accident.

With the upcoming tourist season about to begin he stressed the importance of making sure that everything was in place and safe for tourists who would visit the area in large numbers.

Thai Visa / Manager Online

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