Man in fatal plunge

Australian tourist killed in Thailand parasailing accident

AN Australian man holidaying in Thailand has fallen to his death while parasailing in waters off the resort island of Phuket, with his wife reportedly filming the fatal fall.

Thai media reported Roger John Hussey, 71, plunged more than 30m into the sea after his harness apparently failed shortly after lifting off from the Kata Beach, 860km south of Bangkok, on Wednesday.

The video, posted on Facebook and reportedly filmed by his wife, Budsabong Thongsangka, shows Mr Hussey on shore smiling as he is strapped into safety gear.

He and another man, who is not wearing a harness, are then pulled by boat, their parachute lifting them into the air above the water.

About 13 seconds into the flight Mr Hussey is seen falling from the air into the sea. Beachgoers rushed to help the Australian, who was reportedly having difficulty breathing after he was pulled from the sea.

He died a short time later, Karon police station duty officer Lieutenant Suwisit Khirirak told local media.

Thai police reportedly charged the boat operator and driver Monthian Jandaeng of reckless driving causing death. The couple had been holidaying in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai before travelling to Phuket. They were scheduled to travel back to Australia today.

The latest tragedy follows a jetski accident in February when 20-year-old Australian woman Emily Collie died. Her boyfriend Thomas Keating later pleaded guilty to reckless driving causing death. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade data lists Thailand as one of the most dangerous destinations for Australian visitors.

More than 320 Australians were injured or died in Thailand in 2016, ahead of the Philippines and Indonesia.

A DFAT spokesman said consular assistance was being provided to the man’s family.