Chinese tourist dies in Pattaya jet ski horror
Holiday fun turns to tragedy
A dream holiday in Thailand turned into a nightmare for two Chinese tourists after their jet ski adventure off Koh Lan ended in disaster. The couple, 33-year-old Ma Xiaoxiao and his 28-year-old partner Yang Ojong, set out from Tawaen Beach on Tuesday afternoon – but they never returned.
Frantic overnight rescue mission
The jet ski owner, Chanman Srithong, 45, quickly raised the alarm when the pair missed their scheduled return. Thai navy rescue teams launched a desperate night search in rough seas. At around 2:30am on Wednesday, rescuers finally spotted Ma drifting in the waves. Exhausted and chilled, he was pulled aboard and treated for hypothermia.
“The currents were strong and the wind unpredictable – we feared the worst,” one rescuer said.
Tragic discovery hours later
The search for Yang continued into daylight. At 10:40am on Wednesday, the missing Yamaha jet ski was found drifting two nautical miles off Koh Nok. Soon after, rescuers made the grim find – Yang’s body floating about 1.8 miles north of the island, still strapped into her life jacket. She was taken ashore for an autopsy as officials investigate the exact cause of death.
Survivor’s account
Ma told police that fierce winds threw them from the craft and the current dragged them away from shore. “We couldn’t swim back, the waves were too strong,” he explained. CCTV from Tawaen Beach showed three jet skis leaving together, with the couple’s machine pulling ahead and vanishing within minutes.
Questions over safety
Local officials believe the pair may have been speeding despite dangerous sea conditions. “In waves like that, you need experience,” said one boat operator. Authorities are now examining whether the rental company provided adequate safety briefings before handing over the jet ski.