Pattaya-
A 60-year-old Russian tourist suffered horrific injuries on Wednesday afternoon when her left leg was crushed between a passenger ferry and the pier railing at Laem Bali Hai in South Pattaya.
The accident occurred around noon when the woman, identified by relevant authorities as Ms. Albina Bogdanova, was disembarking from a ferry that had just returned from Koh Larn.
Witnesses said strong winds and rough waves caused the boat to rock heavily as it approached the dock. As passengers began to step off, Ms. Bogdanova mistimed her step and slipped. Her left leg became trapped between the moving vessel and the pier’s metal railing, resulting in a large open wound at the ankle and a compound fracture.
“She was screaming in terrible pain,” one eyewitness told rescue volunteers. “The boat kept moving back and forth with the waves, and suddenly her leg was caught. It happened in seconds.”
Pattaya City security officers and rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation arrived within minutes. Medics provided emergency first aid at the scene before rushing the injured woman to Pattaya Memorial Hospital for urgent treatment.
The incident has once again highlighted safety concerns at the busy Laem Bali Hai pier, especially during periods of strong wind and high waves when ferries can become unstable while docking.
Marine authorities are reminding tourists to wait until boats are fully secured and to follow crew instructions when boarding or disembarking, particularly in adverse weather conditions.
