Year 7 boy drowns after skipping school in Nakhon Ratchasima

A tragic incident unfolded when a Year 7 boy drowned while skipping school to swim in a rapidly flowing river. The boy, identified only as A, was found 100 metres from where he and his friends initially entered the water.

On the day of the incident, rescue volunteers from the Hook 31 unit in Nakhon Ratchasima were alerted to the disappearance of a student in the Jakkarat River, located in the Ban Chong Ko area of Jakkarat district.

The river, a natural water source used by locals, is known for its strong currents. Upon arrival, the rescue team discovered the boy’s shoes and a water bottle left on the riverbank, while his friends and locals desperately searched for him.

“The sound of cries filled the air as the young boy’s peers and residents tried to find him,” an eyewitness recounted.

The 14 year old boy was a student at a secondary school in the Jakkarat area, and despite efforts, there was no sign of him.

The incident prompted officials to call in a diving team from the Hook 31 task force in Korat to assist in the search. The rescue operation faced challenges due to the river’s swift currents.

It took over five hours before the divers located A’s body approximately 100 metres downstream from the initial entry point into the water. The discovery was met with grief from the boy’s parents, teachers, and classmates who were present at the scene. His body was then taken to Jakkarat Hospital for an autopsy, reported KhaoSod.

Preliminary investigations revealed that A and three of his friends had decided to skip school and swim in the river that morning.

Unfortunately, A was caught in a section of the river where the current was particularly strong, pulling him under the water in front of his helpless friends. Unable to rescue him, the friends quickly sought help from adults and rescue services, ultimately leading to the recovery of his body.