The 34-second video, shared by a Facebook user named Fa Lang Fon, captured the incident with a caption reading: "Phuket again…. More than a thousand stories a day, real story, let it go with the sea.”
The post quickly went viral on local social media channels, drawing a mix of amusement and criticism from netizens. Comments ranged from, “Why did he go down there?” to “Can the wheels sink up?” The original poster replied to one comment, saying, “It’s crazy, uncle, let it go, don’t help them.”
When asked about the incident, the video’s poster explained that they had been sitting on the Mai Khao beachfront when they noticed the pickup truck arrive and park.
The vehicle was carrying four foreign tourists. After exiting the car, three of the tourists encouraged the driver to take the truck onto the beach. To their surprise, the driver complied, driving the vehicle onto the sand where it promptly became stuck.
The situation escalated as the truck struggled to move, and eventually, police officers and local villagers stepped in to help pull the vehicle back to safety.
The incident has prompted discussions about responsible behaviour and the potential impact of such actions on the environment.
Of note, police have not reported any action against the driver for stranding the pickup on Mai Khao Beach.
Previous incidents of people driving at other beaches, including incidents involving Thais, have seen the drivers charged and fined B1,000 for reckless driving.