A French father and his two young sons were rescued off the coast of Koh Samui, Thailand, after spending more than 16 hours adrift at sea when their rented jet ski capsized. The trio, aged 50 and their children, were found exhausted but alive on the morning of the day after they went missing, and were taken to hospital for checks before being discharged.
Local government official Amorn Chomchoey told AFP that the father and sons were left
"pale" and "exhausted after swallowing a lot of seawater"by the time rescuers reached them.
What happened during the ordeal?
According to the Bangkok Post, the father had rented the jet ski at around 17:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Thursday for what was reported as a 45-minute ride around Koh Samui, one of Thailand's most popular tourist islands. However, Nation Thailand reported the rental period was instead 30 minutes, a discrepancy that has not been resolved by officials.
The father later told authorities that rough waves struck the vessel and caused the engine to fail toward the end of the rental period, according to the Bangkok Post. Search efforts had to be suspended overnight due to strong winds and rough seas, according to a report from Thai Enquirer, before resuming the following morning.
How did rescuers find them?
Rescuers were alerted after the family failed to return the jet ski at the agreed time. Speedboats and additional jet skis were deployed to search the waters around Koh Samui and toward the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan, the Bangkok Post reported.
The family was located at around 10:00 local time on Friday, AFP reported. According to Thai Enquirer, the family was eventually found roughly seven nautical miles east of Mat Lang Island, further offshore than initial search areas had covered.
Footage of the rescue showed one of the boys perched on the front of the partially submerged jet ski while his father waved to rescuers nearby. Both were wearing life jackets. Nation Thailand reported that the boys' mother and older sister had been waiting anxiously on the beach when the group was finally brought back to shore.
What do we know about the family?
Reports on the children's ages have varied. One account described the sons as 9 and 12 years old, while another report from Nation Thailand gave their ages as 5 and 7. Officials told AFP that the family chose to remain in Thailand and continue their holiday following the ordeal.
What safety changes are being considered?
Authorities on Koh Samui have ordered stricter oversight of jet-ski rental businesses in the wake of the incident and are considering requiring tracking devices on rental craft, according to Nation Thailand. Investigators are still working to determine why the jet ski capsized, with officials citing a possible engine problem as one early theory.
The incident adds to a broader pattern of safety concerns surrounding jet-ski rentals on Thailand's tourist beaches, with previous rental-related emergencies having already prompted calls for tighter licensing and monitoring, according to the same report.
What happens next?
Officials said they would continue investigating the precise cause of the capsizing, including whether the rental operator complied with existing safety regulations, according to Nation Thailand. Any new tracking requirements for rental jet skis would mark a significant shift in how the island's tourism authorities monitor water-sports operators.
Key Facts
- A French father, 50, and his two sons were rescued after 16 hours adrift off Koh Samui, Thailand.
- The jet ski reportedly capsized after rough waves caused engine failure, according to the Bangkok Post.
- Search efforts were suspended overnight due to strong winds before resuming the next morning.
- The family was found roughly seven nautical miles east of Mat Lang Island, according to Thai Enquirer.
- Koh Samui authorities are now considering mandatory tracking devices for rental jet skis.
