Mr. Supachai Iamsuwan, Governor of Chiang Mai has ordered that all ziplines in the province undergo a full safety inspection following the death of a Canadian tourist at Flight of the Gibbon on the weekend.
The 25-year-old Canadian tourist, Donaldson Spencer Charles, fell to his death from the popular Mae Kampong, Huai Kaeo, Mae On District zipline on Saturday when the zipline he was on is reported to have broken under his weight.
Initial reports suggested that Mr. Charles weighed 180 kilograms but later reports suggest that he was only 122 kg. The zipline itself was supposed to be rated for 125 kg.
Flight of the Gibbon itself has been shut pending further investigation as well as the possibility that charges may be laid in relation to the accident.
The Governor said today, April 16 that the Chiang Mai Tourist Assistance Center was providing assistance to the family and Canadian Consular officials in organizing a death certificate and repatriation of the body.
The order for safety inspections has been given to the various district administrative organizations within the province with a demand that the results of inspections be returned to the Province itself.
Once the inspections are completed, there will be a provincial meeting with all zipline operators to further discuss safety measures.
Finally, the Governor ordered that ziplines not participate in “weight drops,” that is where there is an immediate drop downwards on a given zipline course and that only regular ziplining take places.
