Family stranded at sea for 16 hours after jet ski capsized in Thailand

What the report says

A French family was rescued off Thailand’s Koh Samui after their rented jet ski capsized and left a father and his two young sons drifting at sea for more than 16 hours, according to Nile Post’s report based on AFP and Thai media. The children, aged five and seven, and their 50-year-old father were described by local officials as pale and exhausted after swallowing seawater.

The family had rented the jet ski for a short outing on Thursday afternoon local time, but rescuers were alerted when it was not returned as expected. Search teams used speedboats and other jet skis to scan the waters around Koh Samui and toward nearby Koh Phangan before suspending the operation overnight and finding the trio the next morning. The father told authorities that rough waves appeared to hit the jet ski and stop the engine near the end of the ride.

All three were taken to hospital for checks and later discharged, officials said. Footage shared by Thai outlets showed the father and one child wearing life jackets during the rescue. The family reportedly remained in Thailand to continue their holiday. The case highlights the risks of small craft trips in changing sea conditions around a major tourist destination, a general point consistent with the island setting described in the report.