Drowning victim’s body recovered off Rawai

RAWAI, PHUKET: A fishing trip ended in tragedy on Sunday, when a small fiberglass boat with three men aboard sank in a storm off Koh Bon in Rawai.

Kathu resident Attakorn Chaiboon, 40, drowned in the accident, which happened at around 8.30 pm.

His body was finally recovered from the sea at 3.10 pm on Tuesday.

Two survivors, 33-year-old Sittichai Tanatpirom and Jittapol Taweeworaprasert, 30, swam to Koh Bon and alerted the authorities at around 11.30 pm – about the same time the dive boat Choke Somboon 19 sank in a sea squall 12 nautical miles off Phuket.

Rawai Municipality officers, Marine Police and volunteers spent one hour looking for Mr Attakorn before abandoning the search due to rough conditions.

The search continued on Monday, but Mr Attakorn’s body was not recovered by Rawai Municipality officials until Tuesday.

The three men were colleagues who had gone on a fishing trip after work.

Mr Attakorn’s family have claimed his body in preparation for a Buddhist cremation ceremony.