A family from France was rescued after drifting for over 16 hours in the waters off Koh Samui, Thailand, after their jet ski overturned, according to reports.
A 50-year-old man and his two sons, aged 7 and 5, were taken to the hospital for treatment but were able to leave shortly thereafter, stated local official Amorn Chomchoey.
“We found them exhausted; they had swallowed a lot of seawater. They looked pale, especially the children,” Chomchoey noted.
The father had rented a jet ski on Thursday around 5 PM local time, a popular tourist destination in Thailand. The rental operator alerted authorities when the man did not return as scheduled. The family was rescued on Friday at 10 AM.
Investigators are looking into why the jet ski overturned just 15 minutes into their ride, especially since the man claims to have experience with such vehicles. The rental operator mentioned that the family seemed to have ventured outside of the authorized area.
Images released by local authorities at the time of the rescue show the jet ski nearly submerged. In a recording, one of the rescuers can be heard telling the family to “calm down” before assisting one of the children aboard the rescue vessel.
According to local officials, the Frenchman and his children have remained in Thailand to continue their vacation.
