Phuket Marine Police were alerted to the boat’s distress at 10:30pm, with Lt Col Nattapong Pruektharathikun and his crew on patrol boat ‘Wasuthep’ responding to the call.
Royal Thai Navy patrol boat Tor 272, dispatched by the Royal thai Navy Third Area Command, based at Cape Panwa, also joined the effort.
The reponders arrived to find the speedboat close to sinking off the east coast of Koh Mai Thon, located some eight kilometres southeast off the tip of Cape Panwa.
Officers went on board with pumps to help prevent the boat from sinking while the five on board, four men and one woman, were taken safely ashore Koh Mai Thon, where they spent the night.
Early this morning (Aug 24), all five were brought to Chalong Pier, where they were checked by medical personnel before being taken to Wichit Police Station to answer some questions about their ordeal.
Phuket Marine Office Chief Nachapong Pranit confirmed the five were on a fishing trip when the boat started sinking.