SISAKET — 2 June 2026, A 35-year-old man with a congenital disability drowned after a leaking pedal boat capsized in the Mun River in northeastern Thailand, authorities said.
The incident occurred at about 16:40 on 2 June near Ban Kaeng floating restaurants in Khu Sot subdistrict, Muang district, Sisaket province.
Emergency responders from the Khu Sot Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, the Sawang Chit Sisaket Foundation and the Sisaket Rescue Foundation launched a search operation after receiving reports of a missing person in the river.
The victim was identified as Thitsawat Suma, known by the nickname “Nai”, from Wang Hin district in Sisaket province.
According to friends, a group of seven colleagues had travelled to the riverside venue for a meal and a recreational outing hosted by their employer. Before returning home, several members of the group decided to ride a swan-shaped pedal boat on the river.
One friend, 18-year-old Siwakorn Thongkhamsuk, said three people were on the pedal boat while a fourth person held onto an inflatable ring being towed behind.
He said Thitsawat, who was born with a disability affecting his left arm, was not wearing a life jacket and could not swim.
The group had travelled some distance from shore when they noticed water leaking into the boat through a hole in its hull. As they attempted to turn back, the vessel became unstable and suddenly overturned in the middle of the river.
Siwakorn said he managed to grab the inflatable ring and swim back to shore, but realised Thitsawat had not resurfaced.
Friends searched for him and called out his name before contacting emergency services.
Rescue divers and search teams combed the area for more than three hours, facing difficulties caused by the river’s depth and fading daylight.
The victim’s relatives, friends and work colleagues gathered on the riverbank as the search continued.
His supervisor, speaking through tears, described Thitsawat as a hardworking and determined man who had overcome significant challenges throughout his life.
He said Thitsawat had been orphaned as a child and supported himself through labour jobs despite his disability. The two had worked together in roof construction for more than a decade and had become as close as family.
“He was honest, hardworking and never caused problems for anyone,” the supervisor said. “I brought him here to relax after working hard for so long.”
As darkness fell and the search stretched into its fourth hour, relatives performed a traditional ritual by lighting incense and praying for the missing man to be found.
About 10 minutes later, rescue divers located Thitsawat’s body underwater not far from where the boat had capsized.
His body was brought ashore as relatives, friends and colleagues broke down in tears. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.
