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French Family Rescued After 16 Hours Lost at Sea Near Thai Island

1 week ago

A French father and his two young sons were rescued after spending more than 16 hours adrift in the Gulf of Thailand when their jet ski capsized near Koh Samui.

BANGKOK 

The 50-year-old dad and his sons, aged 5 and 7, rented the jet ski from a local operator around 5 p.m. on Thursday. When they didn't return on time, the operator raised the alarm, triggering a major search operation.

Rescuers used speedboats and more jet skis to scour the waters, but the search was called off at night and resumed at dawn. The family was finally spotted around 10 a.m. on Friday.

Dramatic footage shows the jet ski completely overturned, with only its triangular front sticking out of the water. One of the boys was seen sitting on the wreckage while his father floated nearby. Both were wearing life jackets.

"We found them alive," one rescuer is heard shouting in the video, later helping the boy onto another boat.

Local official Amorn Chamchoy said the father and sons looked "pale" and "exhausted from swallowing a lot of seawater," but they were in good health and released from the hospital shortly after being checked.

The boys' mother and older sister were waiting anxiously on the shore and the family has since reunited and continued their holiday.

Investigators are now looking into why the jet ski capsized just 15 minutes into the ride. The father, who described himself as an experienced rider, said strong waves hit the craft and killed the engine. But the jet ski operator told local media the family may have ventured outside the designated rental zone.

Koh Samui is one of Thailand's most popular family destinations, drawing millions of visitors each year with its calm seas and wide range of resorts.

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