SATTAHIP, Thailand – A four-day search for a missing fishing crewman ended tragically on Sunday when his body was found floating against the bow of a Royal Thai Navy vessel at Juk Samet Port in Sattahip. Police were alerted at around 10 a.m. on August 9 after the body was discovered near the bow of HTMS Similan, vessel No. 871, which was berthed at Juk Samet Port within Sattahip Naval Base. Sattahip police, naval personnel, investigators and local rescue workers rushed to the scene. Rescue workers used a boat to recover the body and bring it ashore for examination.
The deceased was identified as Lay Oo, 50, a Myanmar national and crewman aboard the Saeng Charoen Karn Pramong 5 fishing vessel. He was found without a shirt and wearing blue fisherman’s trousers. Initial examination found no obvious signs of assault. Investigators said Lay Oo fell overboard at around 7:10 p.m. on August 5 while the fishing boat was setting its nets approximately 11 nautical miles from Laem Pu Chao lighthouse. The sea was rough at the time, with waves reportedly exceeding one meter. Crew members and the crews of the Saeng Charoen Karn Pramong 8 and 9 joined the search after he disappeared, but efforts to locate him were unsuccessful. The search continued until Saturday, when his body eventually drifted toward Sattahip and became lodged against the bow of the naval vessel at Juk Samet Port, bringing the four-day search to a tragic end.
The body was taken to Sattahip Hospital Km. 10 for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death and confirm his identity. Authorities will then coordinate with his relatives and relevant agencies regarding the next steps. The incident highlights the dangers faced by fishing crews working offshore, particularly during rough sea conditions and while handling nets and equipment on working vessels.
