Missing man rescued after night alone in middle of Phang Nga Bay off Phuket

A man who went missing in the middle of the ocean in Phang Nga Bay off Phuket on Tuesday has been rescued. The man, Panit, had taken off on his jet-ski in the afternoon from a pier in Koh Si Ray, a town near Phuket’s main city district. But the jet-ski ran out of fuel once he neared Phang Nga’s Khai Nai Island. He was recovered yesterday (Wednesday).

Panit called his boss to let him know his jet-ski had run out out of fuel near the island, and then the connection dropped out due to bad reception. The Royal Thai Navy then set out to find Panit, searching for him until 3am, but they still couldn’t find him. The navy then went out to search again yesterday morning, and found Panit on his jet-ski, still in the area around the island.

Navy officers brought Panit back to the pier in Koh Sirae on the east coast of Phuket. He was tired and dehydrated, but overall, he was okay.

The Phang Nga Bay and Phuket areas are known for fun outdoor and beach activities, but these activities aren’t without their risks to tourists who are new to the area. In April, an American tourist got lost while walking on a nature trail in a jungle in Phuket’s Thalang district. He had some scratches on his leg, and was dehydrated, but otherwise was okay. Emergency responders provided the man with water, and then guided him out of the forest to his accommodation.

SOURCE: The Phuket Express