Missing French jet ski family found off Koh Samui

UPDATE

French father and sons rescued off Koh Samui

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

A French father and his two young sons have been rescued after spending the night in the sea off Koh Samui, clinging to a jet ski which had partly sunk.

The 50-year-old man and his sons, aged 12 and nine, were found exhausted but safe on the morning of 14 August 2026 following an overnight search involving local officials, disaster prevention staff and the Koh Samui Jet Ski Club.

The three had rented the jet ski from an operator at Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, at about 5pm on 13 August. They were due to rent it for 30 minutes.

When the rental period ended, staff waved a flag to signal for them to return to shore. The family did not come back, prompting the operator to search using a jet ski before alerting authorities.

Search resumes at dawn

Search teams deployed speedboats and jet skis during the night but had not located the missing tourists by midnight, when the operation was halted, due to conditions.

The search resumed in the morning, led in part by Koh Samui district chief Amorn Chumchuay. Rescuers eventually found the three in the sea, beyond Koh Mat Lang island.

The jet ski was half submerged. The nine-year-old boy was sitting on its bow, while his father was holding on beside it. The 12-year-old was floating nearby.

All three were wearing life jackets, officials said. They were brought aboard a speedboat and taken back to shore, where medical personnel were waiting before they were sent to hospital for further care.

Their mother and sister, who had been waiting on the beach, embraced them as they returned.

Officials seek tighter jet ski safeguards

Mr Amorn said the cause had not yet been established, although initial indications suggested the jet ski may have suffered an engine failure before waves carried it further from shore. Officials will question the tourists in detail to determine what happened.

He said he had instructed the Koh Samui Harbour Office to press operators to strengthen safety arrangements and checks on jet ski licences.

He also said operators should avoid hiring out jet skis close to nightfall and should tell customers to remain in areas where they can be seen from shore, allowing a rapid response if something goes wrong.

Mr Amorn also asked the harbour office to coordinate with operators on fitting tracking equipment to jet skis so their location can be identified if they encounter trouble.

14 August 2026

It doesn’t seem that difficult to fit trackers in those boats; apparently, they haven’t thought about it yet.

Or maybe he will get a visit from the police

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Rescuers eventually found the three in the sea, beyond Koh Mat Lang island. ...... family member who remained ashore told Nai Sanam that she saw the father and children travelling towards Lamai Beach

Family member said they headed south toward Lamae ... yikes

23 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

at about 5.20pm, on 13 August

Sunset at Chaweng Beach in Ko Samui, Surat Thani, occurs at approximately 6:37pm.

19 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

operators should avoid hiring out jet skis close to nightfall

Absolutely unless at indicated staying within eyesight of life guard stations.

Wasn't it seven or eight years ago that the government proposed wrist or ankle bracelets to keep track of tourists. Maybe pass some out to people going these sort of activities and walking in the jungle or the parks.

Can’t fix stupid… Happy they are safe and sound.

9 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

It doesn’t seem that difficult to fit trackers in those boats; apparently, they haven’t thought about it yet.

I've also said it before....a DRONE.

A no brainer!

Could have located them in 10min or so.

Perhaps the skills and technology are beyond these simple beach vendors.

But when you see some of the dim morons using them quite skilfully on YT, it makes you wonder.

And their "features" and technical capabilities are being enhanced at a rapid pace....self homing, precise hovering , following a targeted objective...boat. car person etc.

The list goes on.

Wake up rescue teams, be it lost hikers, a lost child, boats, a jet ski, a drowned person.....