PUBLISHED : 20 Jul 2026 at 13:19
PHUKET – A landlubber who stole a small trawler and headed out to sea soon found himself in deep trouble, swimming for his life after big waves overturned it off the coast of this resort island.
The boat was sighted on Sunday, floating and possibly without any crew, off Nai Yang beach in tambon Sakhu, Thalang district, in the island’s north.
Sakhu police, accompanied by the vessl’s two owners and volunteer rescuers, began a search for the boat. It was found hours later about four nautical miles off the island in the Andaman Sea.
Piyawat Pimolpattanakul, 22, was found floating nearby and was rescued, police said.
Sakhu police chief Pol Col Salan Santisasanakul said Mr Piyawat was from Lampang, in the far north of Thailand. He now faces two charges – theft of the vessel and driving it without a licence.
Mr Piyawat did not say why he stole the fishing boat, whch was moored at Nai Yang beach, according to the Association of Mass Communication News Radio and Television Facebook page. He did tell police he encountered rough seas and lost control of the vessel.