PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 16-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after nearly drowning during a late-night birthday party at Pattaya Beach.
Night-time emergency at Pattaya Beach
Shortly after 12:30 a.m., the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation received an emergency call about a person in distress in the water off Pattaya Beach. Volunteer rescuers were dispatched to Nong Prue in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, where a crowd had already gathered on the sand.
When the team arrived, the teenager, identified as Pla Carp (16), was lying on the beach struggling to breathe. He appeared disoriented, was coughing heavily and showed signs of having swallowed seawater.
Friends pull teenager from the sea
According to the rescue foundation, friends had managed to drag the boy out of the water before emergency crews got there. They had kept him on the sand while waiting for help to arrive.
Rescue workers provided immediate medical treatment to Pla Carp directly on the beach. He was then urgently transported to hospital for further care.
Birthday celebration with alcohol ends in danger
Friends told rescuers that the teenager was part of a group of six youths celebrating the birthday of Jack (17) on the beach. After drinking alcohol, they all went into the sea, where the mood was initially light-hearted.
What began as joking around reportedly turned into a test of strength in the water. The youths started wrestling with each other and pushing one another underwater.
Teen loses consciousness after being pushed underwater
During this rough play, Pla Carp suddenly began to gag severely, according to his friends. Once back on land, his condition worsened.
He eventually lost consciousness, the group said, prompting them to call the emergency hotline. No further details about his condition were available at the time of reporting, and neither the hospital nor the rescue foundation had issued an update.
Similar alcohol-related rescue at Jomtien Beach
In a separate incident at Jomtien Beach, rescuers reportedly saved a foreign man from drowning under similar circumstances. Witnesses had raised the alarm after seeing him in difficulty in the water.
Rescue workers said the man appeared to be heavily intoxicated and noted a strong smell of alcohol. He was brought to safety after being pulled from the sea.