Saturday, August 15, 2026 -A French father and his two young sons have been rescued after spending more than 16 hours stranded at sea off Thailand’s Koh Samui island when their rented jet ski capsized.
The 50-year-old father and his sons, aged nine and 12, were found Friday morning after rescuers resumed a search that had continued late into the night. All three were wearing life jackets when they were located.
The family had rented the jet ski from Chaweng Beach on Thursday afternoon but failed to return as expected, prompting the operator to alert authorities.
Rescuers eventually found one of the boys sitting on the partially submerged jet ski, while his father clung to its side and the other boy floated nearby. They were described as exhausted after swallowing seawater and were taken to hospital for medical checks before being discharged.
The dramatic rescue has also triggered fresh scrutiny of jet-ski safety on Koh Samui. Authorities are investigating why the watercraft capsized and have ordered tighter oversight of rental operators, including clearer riding zones, stronger safety measures and consideration of tracking devices.
The incident is a sharp reminder that even a routine holiday activity can quickly become a life-threatening emergency when weather, distance and equipment problems combine.
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