Pattaya, Thailand – December 27th, 2025
The body of a 57-year-old Thai man was recovered from the sea off Pattaya Beach on Saturday morning, following a tragic drowning incident that occurred in the early hours of the day.
Rescue teams from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation in Pattaya received a report at 8:06 a.m. of a body spotted in the water opposite Soi 13/4 along the beachfront. Volunteer rescuers, aquatic operations personnel, and officers from Pattaya City Police Station rushed to the scene.
At the location, authorities found the lifeless body of Mr. Yodchai (surname withheld), shirtless and wearing only shorts, face down in the seawater approximately 200 meters from the shore. The body was rigid, indicating death had occurred several hours earlier. Aquatic rescue teams brought the remains to shore, where an initial examination revealed no signs of assault or foul play.
On the beach, rescuers located the victim’s belongings, including a bag containing personal items and a zip-lock plastic pouch with a white powder suspected to be illegal drugs. The substance was seized as evidence for further investigation.
A witness, 44-year-old Mr. Fahsai Saengsi, who knew the deceased, later provided a statement to police. He stated that around 1 a.m., he and Mr. Yodchai had been drinking alcohol before deciding to swim out to a boat anchored offshore. Mr. Fahsai reached the boat first, but the intoxicated Mr. Yodchai quickly tired and began to sink. Unable to assist effectively, Mr. Fahsai watched helplessly as his friend disappeared beneath the waves. He immediately alerted authorities, triggering a search, but the body was not located until morning.
Police Lieutenant Mana Sak Phonlamai, deputy investigator at Pattaya City Police Station, attended the scene to document evidence and coordinate the response. The body has been transferred to the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine for a full autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Authorities have urged caution when swimming at night or under the influence of alcohol.
