Sriracha Student Drowns During Sea Outing

SRIRACHA, Thailand – A 16-year-old student drowned after a group of friends went swimming at Bang Phra Fishing Pier in Sriracha, Chonburi, with witnesses saying his friends tried desperately to help but were unable to save him. Sawang Pratheep rescue officials were alerted on August 7 about a person missing underwater at the pier and rushed to the scene with a team of divers. Police said four students had gone to play in the sea and jumped into the water from the middle section of the pier. A wave suddenly swept one of the students away from the group, causing him to struggle in the water. His friends shouted for help and attempted to rescue him, but one friend who jumped in also became exhausted and was forced to return to shore. Witnesses said the students ran outside the pier calling for help, telling people nearby that their friend had drowned and could not swim back. Residents immediately contacted rescue workers and police, but rescuers could not locate the student at first. Divers searched for about 20 minutes before finding the body of the victim, identified only as “A” due to his age, at the seabed. He had reportedly been underwater for more than an hour. A rescue official said the group initially managed to return toward shore, but the victim was unable to swim back. His friend tried to help but eventually became too tired. Investigators believe the teenager may have become exhausted or suffered a cramp while attempting to swim under the pier toward a nearby fiberglass boat. Strong waves may also have pushed him from the shallow area into deeper water. The incident left relatives and friends devastated, with witnesses describing the scene as chaotic and emotional as attempts were made to save the teenager.