UPDATE: Rescue workers found and recovered Mr San Khai Aung’s body at about midday today (May 19).
Thalang Police were called to the scene, a pond behind a pawn shop in Moo 7, Baan Manik, at around 6:30pm.
Police coordinated a rescue operation with the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation’s Muang Mai Branch. More than 10 divers and a rubber dinghy were dispatched to the scene.
Initial investigations revealed that five Myanmar nationals had gone swimming in the pond at around 5pm to cool off during their day off.
At about 5:30pm, while swimming back to shore, one of the group, identified as Mr San Khai Aung (also spelled Sai Khant Aung), 20, suddenly disappeared beneath the water.
Friends tried to locate him but were unsuccessful, prompting them to call for help. Rescue teams arrived and began a search operation for the missing man.
As of this morning, rescue workers were continuing their search.