Speedboat rescues 12 tourists from sinking boat near Pattaya

A dramatic rescue unfolded between Koh Larn and Pattaya City after the passenger boat Tara Jade experienced a sewage pump failure, causing it to take on water. The boat was carrying 12 Thai passengers—five men and seven women—when the incident occurred.

Speedboat operators quickly responded to the emergency, with Ed Chankrajai, the driver of the speedboat Yodtong, leading the rescue. As seawater poured into the stern of Tara Jade, Ed instructed everyone to put on life jackets. The tourists were swiftly moved to the speedboat, which transported them back to shore at Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya.

All 12 passengers made it back to shore without injuries. There was a palpable sense of relief and joy as they embraced each other upon reaching safety. Meanwhile, the Tara Jade, a wooden boat captained by Chamroon Thanapreecha, was towed back to shore. The vessel had taken on a significant amount of water and was close to sinking, reported The Pattaya News.

It remains unclear whether the Pattaya Marine Department will investigate the incident.

In related news, a speedboat carrying tourists on a fishing trip was hit by large waves, causing it to take on water and eventually sink. Five people were left stranded in the sea before being rescued by local fishing boats and the marine police.

At 12.20am on July 7, the marine police received a distress call from relatives of the speedboat’s driver, alerting them that the boat was sinking. The marine police, led by Yuranan Meedet, quickly dispatched a rescue team from Surat Thani to the scene.

Relatives of the victims reported that the boat was struck by large waves, which caused water to flood into the vessel. Despite attempts to pump the water out, the situation worsened, leading to the boat sinking.