A YOUNG enlisted sailor upset over family problems jumped into the sea from a Koh Samui to Donsak pier ferry last night but was fortunately rescued by a fishing boat almost 4 hours later, the Thai-language Matichon daily reported today (Jan 7).
The sailor, Phanuphol Theprathana, 22, a Koh Samui resident and part of Southern Special Forces Marine Corps, jumped into the sea from a Seatran ferry after sending his mother a message bidding her farewell.
At 10 pm rescuers got a radio report from a fishing boat near Donsak pier, in Surat Thani, that they had rescued a young man who was floating in the middle of the sea about 8 miles from the coast, and that he was wearing green military pants and a navy blue T-shirt.
Pol. Col. Suthi Nitiakrapong, the head of Donsak police station, personally took 2 police boats and rushed to the fishing boat, where they found Phanupong totally wet and weak after being in the sea for almost 4 hours, and brought him ashore.
He was then rushed to the hospital with the police keeping an eye on him from a distance.
Pol. Col. Suthi said Phanupong is as yet too weak to be questioned, but he has contacted and informed his relatives, and initially it is clear that it was family problems which led to him trying to drown himself.
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Top: Phanupong after he was rescued after floating in the sea for almost 4 hours. Photo: Matichon
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