Father and young sons rescued after 16 hours stranded off Thai island
The father and his two sons had rented a jet ski from a local operator, but failed to return it at the agreed time.
A French family became stranded off the coast of Thailand's Koh Samui island for over 16 hours after their rented jet ski capsized. The father, 50, and his two sons, aged 5 and 7, had rented the jet ski around 5 p.m. on Thursday. When they failed to return at the agreed time, the rental operator notified local rescuers, triggering a frantic search effort using speedboats and additional jet skis.
The family was found on Friday morning, around 10 a.m. local time, with footage showing the nearly capsized jet ski with only its front section visible above the water. Both the father and sons were wearing life jackets and appeared pale and exhausted, having ingested significant amounts of seawater. They were taken to an area hospital for checks but were later discharged.
The family was reunited with their mother and older sister, who had been waiting on the beach, and they are continuing their holiday. The cause of the capsize is under investigation, with the father attributing it to rough waves that halted the jet ski's engine. The father, claiming to be experienced with jet skis, and the rental operator stated the family had ventured beyond the designated area. Koh Samui, known for its calm waters and abundance of resorts, draws millions of tourists annually.
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