PATTAYA, THAILAND – A late-night swim off Pattaya Beach ended in tragedy when a 57-year-old Thai man drowned and was found dead the following morning.
Body recovered off Pattaya Beach
Rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation said they received a report at 8:06 a.m. on Saturday about an unresponsive body floating in the sea opposite Soi 13/4 along the beach road. Volunteer responders, specialized water rescue teams and officers from the Pattaya City Police Station went to the scene and located the man about 200 meters from shore, drifting in the water wearing only shorts.
They brought the body to land, where initial assessments found it was already in a state of advanced rigor, indicating he had died several hours earlier. The responders reported no visible signs of violence or external injuries that would suggest foul play.
Personal items and suspected drugs found nearby
Close to where the victim was discovered, rescuers found his personal belongings on the beach, including various items in a bag. They also located a zip bag containing a white powder that was initially assessed as a suspected illegal drug, which police seized and registered as evidence for further examination.
Friend describes alcohol use and night-time swim
Later, a witness who knew the deceased came forward to police. The 44-year-old Fahsai Saengsi told officers that he had been drinking alcohol with the victim, identified as Mr. Yodchai (surname withheld), during the night.
According to Fahsai, at about 1 a.m. the two decided to swim in the sea and head toward a boat anchored off the coast.
“I reached the boat first, but Yodchai was drunk, became tired quickly and started to sink,”
said Fahsai, witness.
He stated that he was not able to effectively help his friend and saw him disappear under the water.
“I alerted the authorities immediately,”
said Fahsai, witness. A search during the night did not locate the man, and his body was only found in the morning.
Autopsy ordered to clarify cause of death
Police Lieutenant Mana Sak Phonlamai, deputy investigator at Pattaya City Police Station, carried out evidence collection on the beach and coordinated further steps in the case. The victim’s body was transferred to the forensic department of the Police General Hospital for a full autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and whether any additional factors were involved.
Authorities warn against swimming at night
Officials used the incident to highlight the specific dangers of swimming in the sea during the night, especially under the influence of alcohol. They issued a clear warning against swimming after drinking and urged greater caution in the water, particularly away from supervised or guarded areas.
They noted that darkness makes orientation and rescue more difficult, alcohol reduces strength, reaction time and judgment, and distances to boats or buoys can be easily underestimated in open water.