UPDATE: Peerapong has been found safe "in a mangrove forest far from the school". More details to come.
Peerapong Thipbunchong, 15, was last seen at Phuket Panyanukul School yesterday afternoon, but by 4pm the school administrators had called his mother, Patcharee Kasikun, 31, to explain that he was missing.
Ms Patcharee said that she had dropped Peerapong off at the school at about 3pm after taking him on a trip to Koh Lanta in Krabi for the school holidays.
“I was driving back to Krabi when I was informed by the school at about 4pm that he had disappeared from the school,” Ms Patcharee said.
A search of the area was launched, saw Kusoldharm Foundation and other local rescue workers finding footprints on the nearby Tha La Beach.
“I am very worried about my son. I afraid that he is in danger,” Ms Patcharee said.
The Phuket Panyanukul School was established on November 29, 1993 and is located at in Pa Khlok, Phuket.
It is recognised by the local Region Four division of the Ministry of Education and was established in response to the Thai Government’s policy of expanding education opportunities to children from kindergarten to high school level with special needs, including emotional and behavioural disabilities and autism.