Thai man killed in boating accident near pier in Nonthaburi
A boating accident occurred last night near Wat Som Kliang Pier in Nonthaburi, resulting in the death of a 58 year old man. The incident involved a collision between a paddle boat and a motorboat.
The deceased, Weerawong, was paddling to pick up his mother from the pier when the motorboat, driven by 63 year old Manit, suddenly collided with his boat. Manit explained that he was taking his grandson home and did not expect Weerawong to paddle across his path. The collision caused Weerawong’s boat to capsize, leading to his drowning.
“I didn’t dare to jump in and help because of my age. If I jumped in, I might have drowned as well.”
Rescue teams, including divers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation and medical staff from the Institute of Forensic Science, arrived at the scene promptly. After a brief five-minute search, they recovered Weerawong’s body from the water near the pier.
Weerawong’s brother-in-law, 56 year old Suriyan witnessed the incident and provided further details. He mentioned that Weerawong regularly paddled to pick up their mother from the Phra Pin 3 market. On this particular day, despite the light rain, Weerawong was only a few metres from the shore when the motorboat struck.
“I shouted at the motorboat driver to jump in and help but he didn’t. I was across the river and didn’t dare to jump in myself because the current was too strong. I paddled over to check but it was too late; my brother-in-law had already drowned.”
Suriyan also urged all boat operators to exercise more caution, reduce their speed, and be mindful of their surroundings. He noted that most boats navigating the Bang Yai Canal are long-tail boats or locals’ boats, and accidents like this can be prevented with greater vigilance.
Police officers have since interviewed eyewitnesses and sent both boats for forensic examination to determine the exact cause of the collision and identify any negligence. The motorboat driver, Manit, will undergo further questioning to clarify the events leading up to the accident, reported KhaoSod.
