Pattaya, Thailand – A tourist from Dubai accidentally rode his rented moped straight into a small sacred pond at Wat Mai Samran on 12 October 2025, turning a routine temple visit into an internet sensation.
Accident at the temple
The couple had stopped at the well‑known Wat Mai Samran, also called Wat Koh Larn, to take photos of the shrine and the large Phra Phrom statue. While the woman photographed the site, her companion took the yellow Honda Click rental for a short ride around the grounds. Kalaya Mode Thong, head of the Koh Larn rescue unit who witnessed the incident, said, “Suddenly he accidentally twisted the throttle and the scooter shot into the pond.” The man emerged soaked and somewhat bewildered in knee‑deep water.
Rescue and immediate aftermath
Three monks and several villagers immediately waded into the pond—known locally as Luang Pu Tuads Teich—and pulled the moped out. The pond measures roughly 4.5 by 4.5 metres and is used by residents for fish farming. Temple officials said neither the shrine nor the pond was damaged, but the scooter suffered serious water damage.
Video goes viral
Kalaya posted a 35‑second clip of the mishap on Facebook with the comment, “A true act of divine providence — a thousand events in one day.” The short video was shared widely and drew cheerful comments from viewers online.
Monks and locals react
Monks at the temple declined to pursue any legal action and treated the incident with humour rather than anger. Villagers described it as “one of the funniest incidents at the temple in a long time.” The tourist apologised repeatedly to those present and promised to cover all repair costs for the damaged moped.
For the visitor, the stop at Wat Mai Samran will be memorable for reasons he surely did not intend, and the monks now have a new anecdote to share with future guests.