- A French family was rescued after their jet ski capsized off the coast of Thailand's Koh Samui, leaving them stranded for over 16 hours.
- The father, 50, and his two sons, 5 and 7, rented the jet ski from a local operator on Koh Samui at around 5 p.m. local time Thursday.
- After the family failed to return at the set time, the operator informed local rescuers and authorities.
- Search efforts with speedboats and jet skis combed the waters surrounding Koh Samui and towards the nearby island of Koh Phangan, but were suspended overnight.
- The family was found around 10 a.m. local time on Friday, with rescue footage showing one of the boys on top of the capsized jet ski and his father floating nearby.
- The father and sons were taken to an area hospital for checks and discharged shortly afterward.
- The family was reunited with the boys' mother and older sister on the beach and continued their holiday.
- The father said rough waves had struck the jet ski, causing its engine to stop towards the end of the rental period.
- Investigators are looking into why the jet ski capsized after operating for just 15 minutes.
A French family was rescued after being stranded for over 16 hours at sea when their rented jet ski capsized off the coast of Koh Samui, Thailand. The incident occurred on Thursday evening when the father, 50, and his sons, aged 5 and 7, rented the jet ski for a 45-minute ride.1
Local authorities were alerted after the family failed to return at the agreed time, prompting a search operation that included speedboats and jet skis combing the waters around Koh Samui and towards Koh Phangan.3
The family was found around 10 a.m. local time on Friday, with footage showing the jet ski almost completely submerged, leaving only its front section visible above the water.56
One of the boys was seen sitting on top of the jet ski while his father floated nearby, both wearing life jackets. Local government official Amorn Chomchoey reported that the father and sons were "pale" and "exhausted after swallowing a lot of seawater," but otherwise in good health.
They were taken to a local hospital for checks and discharged shortly afterward. Investigators are looking into the cause of the capsizing, with the father stating that rough waves had struck the jet ski, causing its engine to stop. The jet ski operator indicated that the family may have traveled outside the designated rental area.71011
The boys' mother and older sister were waiting on the beach during the rescue, and the family has since continued their holiday in Thailand.
“The father, 50, and his sons, 5 and 7, were found around 10 a.m. local time Friday after search efforts were suspended overnight. Rescuers used speedboats and jet skis to comb waters toward Koh Phangan; the family was taken to hospital but discharged shortly afterward.”
CBS News
BBC
