A dramatic rescue operation off the coast of popular Thai tourist destination Koh Samui has concluded successfully, with a 50-year-old father and his two sons pulled to safety after spending 16 hours drifting on a jet ski across the open Gulf of Thailand, a local senior official confirmed to news agency AFP in an interview on Saturday.
The unexpected ordeal unfolded when the family set out for a short recreational ride from the island’s shore, but encountered mechanical failure that left their watercraft stranded far from land, with no way to call for help immediately. As hours stretched into overnight, local search and rescue teams coordinated a multi-vessel sweep of the waters surrounding Koh Samui, scanning the horizon in shifting light to locate the missing group.
By the time the family was spotted, they had been adrift for more than half a day, surviving exposure to the tropical sun during the day and cool ocean breezes overnight. The official confirmed that all three members of the family were alive when rescued, though they had experienced mild dehydration and fatigue from their extended time at sea. They were quickly transferred to shore for a routine medical check-up following their extraction from the jet ski.
The incident comes amid a record rebound in international tourism to Thailand, with thousands of recreational water activities taking place around popular island destinations like Koh Samui each week. Local authorities have reminded visitors to always check vessel safety equipment before heading out, travel in groups close to shore, and carry waterproof communication devices to avoid similar emergencies.