Phuket fisherman drowns after returning to port for safety

PHUKET: A fisherman who returned to port due to rough seas collapsed and fell into the water at the fishing port area in Rassada, on the east side of Phuket Town, yesterday, and was found dead two hours later.

Witnesses told police that Songyot Choophol, 39, fell from the fishing boat Sor Narongrit 1 while he was casting out mooring lines to tie the boat up to the port at about4:30pm.

“Apparently, he just passed out and fell into the water right in front of his friends,” explained Lt Col Panya Chaichana of the Phuket Marine Police.

A team of divers from the Marine Police and Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers soon arrived and began searching for Mr Songyot.

“When he fell into the water, other fishermen jumped in and searched for him, but they couldn’t find him, so they called us,” Col Panya told the Phuket Gazette this morning.

The rescue divers spent almost two hours trying to find him.

“They finally found his body at 6:15pm,” Col Panya said.

Crewmen told police that Mr Songyot was prone to blackouts.

“However, we will question more people about this, including his relatives,”Col Panya said.

“Mr Songyot’s body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where doctors will conduct a post-mortem examination before we can allow it to be released to his relatives for his funeral.”