At approximately 10:30 on 3/5, athlete Pham Truong Anh (Tom Pham), 42 years old, experienced an incident while operating a flyboard device, carrying a female tourist above the water at Ho Nui Lo. Both descended uncontrollably into the lake and sank.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, manager of the Mui Ne Flyboard Team, the operating unit, stated that the initial cause was debris from the lake being drawn into the equipment's engine. The system shut down abruptly, causing the athlete and guest to fall freely. Reacting instinctively, the tourist pushed the athlete away, leading him to lose balance. Simultaneously, the water pump hose became twisted around the propeller. The system's weight, tens of kilograms, pulled the athlete deep underwater.

The Mui Ne Flyboard Team had performed at Hoa Lu ancient town for three days prior, from 30/4 to 2/5. Ho Nui Lo was not an official performance location. At the time of the incident, Thuy's team had finished surveying a new flight spot at the partner's request, so rescue boats had moved further away. Debris clearing was also not maintained as thoroughly as during the three official performance nights in Hoa Lu ancient town. Regarding the absence of life vests, she explained that tandem flights require flexibility, and life vests make it harder for the athlete to hold the guest. Moreover, during an official performance, rescue boats would be on standby and respond within 5 seconds. "The incident also stemmed partly from our own oversight," Thuy stated.

Thu Ha, a resident of Hanoi, who was the guest involved in the incident with athlete Tom Pham, said she came to Ninh Binh to experience flyboarding. Having missed the previous nights, Ha decided to seek out the survey location and requested the Mui Ne Flyboard Team to allow her a trial flight with the athlete, assuring them of her strong swimming ability. Ha recounted that as she was enjoying the experience, the equipment malfunctioned, and both fell. "The male athlete tried to push me to the surface one or two times before he sank," Ha stated, expressing "deep appreciation" for the athlete's professional conduct during the incident. As an experienced swimmer, Ha held her breath as soon as the equipment stopped and had no difficulty surfacing. The Hanoi tourist noted that the incident was not as serious as many observers perceived and that she would still try flyboarding again if given the opportunity.

Currently, athlete Tom Pham is undergoing treatment at Bach Mai Hospital, his health is stable, and he is expected to be discharged tomorrow.

The Mui Ne Flyboard Team performing at Hoa Lu ancient town on the evening of 1/5. Photo: Flyboard Mui Ne

According to Thuy, there is no official body in Vietnam that certifies flyboard athletes. Athlete competency is assessed entirely based on international competition achievements, championship titles, Guinness records, and experience performing at large-scale events. Athlete Tom Pham is currently the most skilled flyboarder in Vietnam, specializing in training professional athletes.

The Mui Ne Flyboard Team's performance lineup also includes international athletes such as Tomasz Kubik (two-time World Champion, one Guinness record) and Varad (Top 2, Russia Open Cup). The team also frequently performs abroad in countries like Cambodia, Laos, Russia, and the UAE.

During the recent holiday, the team decided to come to Ninh Binh to promote the beauty of the region. Thuy stated that Ninh Binh boasts beautiful riverine landscapes, making it suitable for developing flyboard performance services. The unit agreed to reduce performance costs by half to support local businesses in tourism promotion.

Following the incident, all flyboard performance activities in Ninh Binh have been temporarily suspended for review and safety assurance. According to authorities, flyboard operations in Hoa Lu were fully licensed in accordance with regulations.

Flyboard is a water sport developed by Franky Zapata of France. Participants stand on a board attached to a jet pipe, using water pressure from a personal watercraft engine to create thrust, lifting the body into the air to perform maneuvers.

Ho Nui Lo spans over 50 hectares, with an average depth of 4-5 meters. It is a freshwater lake within the local tourism development plan, surrounded by limestone mountains, and often combined with visits to the Chua Vang area.

Tu Nguyen