KOH PHANGAN — Tourist police on Koh Phangan successfully reunited a French father with his 13-year-old son who became separated during a ferry journey from Koh Tao to Koh Samui after the boy mistakenly disembarked at the wrong island.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Winit Boonchit received a report at 7:07 p.m. on July 10 from Mr. Nicolas, a 50-year-old French tourist, stating that his son had become separated from him while traveling on a Lomprayah ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Samui. It was suspected that when the ferry stopped at Koh Phangan, the child misunderstood and disembarked, causing the separation.
Koh Phangan tourist police immediately began searching the area based on the report. They subsequently found the boy walking along the roadside near Thong Sala Pier. After questioning him and confirming his name and nationality matched the missing person report, police contacted Mr. Nicolas to inform him that his son had been found and would be taken to the tourist police service unit to rest.
Since the child had no money or mobile phone, tourist police provided him with cash to purchase personal items and food from a convenience store. As it was already dark with no ferry services available to Koh Samui, officers arranged for the boy to stay overnight at the Koh Phangan tourist police service unit with his father’s consent. Meanwhile, Koh Phangan tourist police coordinated with their Koh Samui counterparts to assist the father.
On the morning of July 11, Koh Phangan tourist police escorted the child to board a ferry to reunite with his father waiting on Koh Samui, with Koh Samui tourist police providing assistance throughout the process.
Mr. Nicolas was overjoyed to tears upon being reunited with his son. He expressed profound gratitude to the tourist police officers for their help in finding and caring for his son. Tourist police responded that ensuring tourist safety and welfare is their fundamental duty.
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