The mother of one of the five diving students drowned in the Chumphon Sea said she would file a criminal lawsuit against the boat operator.
She also called for stricter inspection of the boat by relevant government agencies before issuing them operation license to prevent recurrence of the boat tragedy.
Mantana Suthanurak, the mother of Ms Sumansa Suthanurak, 33, a pharmacist, revealed the planned legal action against the operator of the Chote Tara 2 in Chumphon after going to Paknamchumphon Hospital to receive her daughter’s body for the funeral ceremony.
She said she would consult the lawyer to lodge a complaint with the police and pursue the case in the court.
She believed the deadly accident was caused by the recklessness of the boat operator and not of the diving students.
She added that her daughter was an experienced diver and she had undergone diving courses both in Thailand and abroad several times in the past.
The Chote Tara 2 boat was taking 13 diving students, trainers and three crew members to Ko Ngam Yai island, about 18 kilometres off the Chumphon shore, for scuba diving on Wednesday (July 26).
However while at sea, the boat engine broke down, forcing it to drift uncontrollably. It radioed for help and was helped by a fishing boat. They managed to help 11 people while the other five, including Sumansa, drowned.
Their bodies were found trapped inside the sunken boat.
(Source:-Thai PBS)