Two workers killed in Phuket after bungee jump sling breaks during testing
Two workers were killed and another injured after a wire sling snapped while they were testing a new bungee-jumping system in Phuket's Muang district.
The incident also prompted local authorities to temporarily close the place pending inspection.
Police and rescue workers rushed to the scene in Soi San Chao Kuan Ou, tambon Chalong, at about 9pm on Friday and found two bodies in a bungee basket. The victims were identified as the business’ owner Pitakchai Wongsricha, 28, and bungee mechanic Tossaporn Suksri, 27.
The injured employee, Anupong Kanthawong, 37, is in a stable condition at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Police said the sling snapped, sending the basket and the two men inside crashing to the ground.
Police found that the company had earlier held a merit-making ceremony to mark the business’ opening and then tested the system using a 75kg sandbag.
The four previous tests went well, so Pitakchai reportedly suggested a fifth test using people.
The three men went up the tower and Anupong was injured after jumping from the tower’s 52m level into a pond.
After Anupong jumped, the basket carrying Pitakchai and Tossaporn shook up and down several times before the sling snapped, sending the basket to the ground and killing them instantly.
Tambon Chalong mayor Samran Jindapol, who inspected the scene yesterday, said the company had obtained a permit to build a structure up to 12 metres high so the local authority would suspend construction pending adjustment of the building to the conditions of the permit.
