“We found them exhausted after swallowing a lot of seawater,” a government official said after the trio was rescued
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A dad and his two young sons were stranded at sea for over 16 hours after a jet ski incident on Aug. 13
- All three were rescued and transported to the hospital
- “We found them exhausted after swallowing a lot of seawater,” a government official said after the trio was rescued
A dad and his two young sons were stranded at sea for over 16 hours.
The 50-year-old French man and his two sons, 5 and 7, were stranded in the sea overnight after their jet ski capsized off Ko Samui, Thailand, on Thursday, Aug. 13, according to France 24.
After being rescued, all three were transported to the hospital, and they have all since been discharged.
Amorn Chomchoey, a local government official, said the three were “exhausted after swallowing a lot of seawater,” per France 24.
He added, “They were pale, especially the boys.”
Credit: Getty
The father had rented a jet ski from a local operator on the island around 5 p.m. on Thursday.
When the family didn’t return, the operator grew concerned and notified authorities, Chomchoey said.
Speedboats and jet skis were used to search the waters, according to The Bangkok Post, and search efforts were suspended overnight before resuming the next morning.
The family was found around 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14.
PEOPLE reached out to Chomchoey and the Provincial Administration Office of Ko Samui on Sunday, Aug. 16, but did not receive immediate responses.
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Investigators are looking into why the jet ski capsized.
The operator told local media that the family traveled outside the area in the rental contract, per France 24.
France 24 reviewed footage of the rescue that shows the bright yellow jet ski nearly completely under water with just its front section visible. One of the boys was sitting on top of the jet ski while his father was in the water nearby.
They were both seen wearing life jackets.
Officials said the family stayed in Thailand for the rest of their vacation.
The Nation and the BBC reported that the boys’ mother and older sister were waiting on the beach when they were brought back to the island.
Ko Samui is the third largest island in Thailand, per the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The island is home to multiple beaches, including Chaweng, Lamai, Taling Ngam and Natien.
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