Pattaya, Thailand – On October 9th, 2025, at approximately 9:20 AM, a bizarre incident unfolded off the coast of Koh Larn when a 36-year-old American man, identified as Joshua, leapt from a passenger boat into the open sea. The event occurred in the waterway between Koh Krok and Koh Sak, roughly 800 meters from Koh Larn, as the boat was en route to Ta Waen Beach.
According to Ms. Kalaya Motthong, head of the Koh Larn rescue unit under the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation in Pattaya, the man stood at the bow of the vessel before suddenly jumping into the water and swimming away from the boat. The act caused panic among the passengers, who alerted the boat’s captain. Despite attempts to rescue him, the man waved off help, gesturing “goodbye” and continuing to swim further into the sea.
The captain circled the boat multiple times in an effort to retrieve the man, but he repeatedly evaded assistance. Eventually, the captain radioed for support from Pattaya’s marine rescue team. Ms. Kalaya managed to record parts of the incident on video.
Local authorities, including Koh Larn police, tourist police, and Pattaya’s marine rescue team, arrived with rubber boats and patrol vessels to assist. However, the man continued to resist, swimming away and even jumping off the rescue boat three times after being pulled aboard. The chaotic scene lasted nearly an hour before rescuers were able to restrain him and bring him under control. He was then transported to the shore at Pattaya Beach, near the Pattaya City Police Station.
During initial questioning, Joshua claimed he jumped into the sea because he wanted to swim and return to Koh Larn on his own, insisting he did not need help, was not depressed or wanting to self harm, and only wanted to swim to shore alone. However, authorities noted that he appeared to be in an abnormal state, raising concerns about his mental condition. He was eventually taken to a hospital for a thorough medical evaluation.
*Reported by Thiwakorn Kritsamanee, Regional Correspondent, Pattaya, Chonburi*
