AN IRISH tourist is reported to be among 43 people who were injured when two boats collided in the Gulf of Thailand on the way to a popular island beach party.
The speedboats, carrying Thai and foreign tourists, crashed in Surat Thani, south of Bangkok, as they were ferrying tourists between Koh Pa Ngan and Koh Samui for a full moon party, a monthly event that attracts thousands of young, mostly western tourists.
A police spokesman said of the 43 revellers injured, 39 were kept in hospital. Sixteen of those hurt were Thai, while others were Irish, Norwegian and Malaysian.
There are nine still in hospital, including five Australians, two British, one Irish and one Singaporean.
The Nation newspaper said the boats collided and overturned before midnight on Saturday night, throwing passengers into rough seas just off the island.
It said two of the injured were in severe condition with serious head injuries.