CHAINAT — A 52-year-old French man and a Thai delivery rider rescued a Thai woman from the fast-flowing Chao Phraya River in Chainat province, central Thailand, after she jumped into the dangerous waters.
CCTV footage captured the dramatic rescue on November 5, showing a woman in her 30s walking along Phrom Prasert Road in Mueang district, near the provincial natural resources office, before climbing over a fence and leaping into the river.
Witnesses shouted for help and called police, but strong currents from upstream made bystanders hesitant to jump in. Moments later, the French man — identified as David, 52, from Marseille — plunged into the water, followed by a young delivery rider who happened to be passing by.
The pair managed to pull the woman to safety. Relatives later took her to a hospital for treatment, officials said.
David told reporters he acted instinctively after hearing cries for help outside his home. “I saw the woman floating but she looked exhausted and was starting to sink, so I immediately jumped in,” he said.
When asked why he was such a strong swimmer, David said he grew up in Marseille, a port city in southern France on the Mediterranean coast near the mouth of the Rhône River. He explained that his hometown is surrounded by water, similar to Chainat, and that many people from Marseille are skilled swimmers and excel at water sports such as water polo.
He emphasized that the rescue was a team effort. “Another Thai man jumped in with me, and others ran to grab a life buoy and threw it down to help,” he said.
Authorities praised the quick action and bravery of the rescuers, calling it a testament to the cooperation between local residents and foreigners in times of crisis.
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