SURAT THANI, Thailand – A French father and his two young sons were found alive after spending the night stranded at sea following a jet ski trip from Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui. The three tourists, a 50-year-old father and his two sons, aged 12 and 9, had rented a jet ski from a beach operator near Long Beach Hotel in Bo Phut on the evening of August 13. When they failed to return, the operator alerted authorities and a search operation was launched. Three boats initially searched along the coastline from Thong Son Bay and Thong Ket Bay toward Mat Lang Island, but found no sign of the family.
At around 8.50 p.m., officials from Koh Samui District, Samui City Municipality, disaster prevention authorities, Bo Phut Police, Tourist Police, security agencies and rescue foundations joined the search. Speedboats searched around Plai Laem Bay, Chaweng Beach and Koh Som, while additional jet skis searched toward the waters between Samui and Koh Phangan. The search continued until about 1 a.m. on August 14 before being temporarily suspended because strong waves outside the bay made nighttime operations unsafe.
Koh Samui District Chief Amorn Chumchuay resumed the search on Friday, leading officials, territorial defense volunteers and rescue workers in speedboats. A search center was established to coordinate the operation, while the men’s French wife and mother waited anxiously on the beach.
The family was eventually spotted floating offshore, clinging to their jet ski. Rescuers brought all three safely back to shore. The father and his sons had spent the entire night at sea and were reportedly exhausted and dehydrated. Officials provided immediate assistance and closely monitored their condition.
