More than 15 Marine Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers went out to search for the missing pair yesterday (Feb 22) after they had been reported missing from the waters off Koh Sireh since Saturday night. (See story here)
“There were four people who went out fishing on one canoe,” explained Lt Col Panya Chaichana of the Phuket Marine Police.
“The canoe, carrying Wisuth Prasert, 58; Mard Pantip, 52; Laong Thongpitak, 53, and a 10-year-old Sontaya Kasikul when it began to sink when they were about 100 metres offshore.
“As it was sinking, the canoe has hit by a big wave and this threw all four on board into the water. The boy managed to swim to shore and alert residents who were able to rescue Mr Wisuth. He was taken to hospital by rescue workers but was pronounced dead shortly after,” he said.
The body of a second man, Mr Mard, was found this morning (Feb 23) floating in a mangrove near the Klong Tha Chin canal in Rassada, about 1.8 kilometers from where the canoe sunk. The man’s sister has identified the body.
Sontaya said “All the men are my relatives. We took out the canoe to go fishing but a big wave flipped the canoe and sank it.
“We all tried to swim back to shore but only I managed to reach it. Mr Wisut was close to shore but was unconscious. Residents pulled him from the water and rescue workers revived him and took him to hospital.
“I thought he would be all right but I was told later that we had lost him,” he said.
Marine police are continuing to search for Mr Laong who is still missing.