Sriracha, Chonburi – A rescue team from the Sawang Prateep Sriracha Rescue Unit successfully retrieved a mobile phone and car keys lost in the Bang Phra Reservoir, allowing a stranded tourist to return home. The operation, which involved navigating dense jungle and diving into deep waters, took approximately 40 minutes.
At around 11:00 AM on September 27th, 2025, the Sawang Prateep Sriracha Rescue Unit in Chonburi Province received a distress call from a tourist requesting assistance to locate a mobile phone and pickup truck keys that had fallen into the Bang Phra Reservoir. The incident occurred near the reservoir’s irrigation canal in Village 8. The rescue team’s “Samut Dam” diving unit was then dispatched with diving equipment to assist.
The site was challenging to access, requiring the team to use motorcycles to transport diving gear through dense jungle with grass taller than head height. The water in the reservoir was over two meters deep, with thick underwater vegetation complicating the search. The distressed tourist, Mr. Pradit Songsillap, a 41-year-old employee at a company in the Amata Chonburi Industrial Estate, explained that he and a friend had driven from Chonburi city to fish at the reservoir during a holiday. While attempting to board a boat to join another group of friends, the boat capsized, causing him to fall into the water. A waterproof bag containing his OPPO mobile phone, valued at over 10,000 baht, and his pickup truck keys slipped into the reservoir’s depths. Despite attempts to retrieve the items himself, Mr. Pradit was unable to reach the bottom and sought help, as losing the items would have left him unable to contact anyone or drive home.
Three members of the rescue team conducted the search near the spot where the boat overturned. They first used a machete to clear grass, which helped in their search for the lost items. Despite thick underwater grass posing obstacles, the team located the mobile phone and car keys after about 40 minutes. The items were successfully returned to Mr. Pradit, who expressed immense relief and gratitude to the Sawang Prateep rescue team for their assistance.
“Thanks to the rescue team, I can finally get back home,” Mr. Pradit said, visibly relieved. The operation displayed the dedication and skill of the Sawang Prateep Sriracha Rescue Unit in tackling challenging environments to aid those in need.
