PATTAYA, THAILAND – A day trip for a Bangkok family turned into a nightmare when their chartered boat sank off the coast, leaving 14 adrift in open water for hours.
Family outing to island turns into chaos
The Bangkok family had set out for a relaxed excursion to Koh Man Wichai on a rented fishing boat that departed Laem Bali Hai at 7 a.m. Just two hours later, weather conditions changed abruptly.
“Suddenly, high waves and strong wind came up,”
said Natthawut Sihamat, passenger.
The skipper was below deck trying to repair a faulty bilge pump when a powerful wave hit the vessel. Within minutes, the boat listed sharply to one side and went under, forcing the passengers into the sea.
Struggle for survival in open water
The tourists fought for their lives in rough conditions after the sinking.
“Not everyone had properly worn life jackets, and some could not swim,”
said Yongyut Decharasamee, survivor. Four people, including a young girl, swam toward the nearest island to raise the alarm, while the others, among them two boys, remained in the water.
Rescue ship searches for hours
The first distress call reached the coast guard at 1:33 p.m., prompting rescue ship 4008 to set out immediately. High waves and rough seas made it difficult to locate everyone.
“We drifted in the sea for more than seven hours,”
said Natthawut.
At around 5:30 p.m., authorities reported that all 14 passengers and the skipper had been recovered alive. The tourists escaped with shock and considerable luck, and an official investigation was launched.
Skipper in critical condition
Boat operator Suphat Juyaem, known as “Tai Lek”, was pulled unconscious from the water after swallowing large amounts of seawater. Emergency responders resuscitated him at the scene and rushed him to hospital, where his condition remained critical. For the family from Bangkok, the Pattaya trip will be remembered as the day of their greatest miracle.
Safety questions for tourist vessels
Authorities began examining why the bilge pump had failed and whether there had been enough life jackets on board. The incident cast a spotlight on safety standards for tourist boats in Thailand. Investigators are now working to determine how such a near-disaster could have been prevented.