Missing Briton found camping out on a remote island off Chumphon

 

 

A 74-year old British tourist who was reported by his friend to have gone missing for two days after he went out to sea off Chumphon coast in a canoe has been found safe and sound on an uninhabited island in the Gulf.

 

Watcharin Suwapit, an official of Saphli tambon administration organization in Pathiu district, said Wednesday (Feb 14) that he received a request for help from Pol Lt-Col Sathien Chaisawat, an inspector of Chumphon marine police station, to locate a British tourist, 74-year old Mikel Smith.

 

Mr Smith’s friend, 63-year old Colin, lodged a complaint with the police, to look former who rented a canoe to explore the islands in the Gulf off Thung Wua Laen Bay two days ago and has not been seen ever since.

 

Mr Watcharin, who is the chief of maritime rescue unit, then organized a team of divers and volunteers to get on board of a speed boat to make a search in the sea off Pathiu district.

 

Full Story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/missing-briton-found-camping-remote-island-off-chumphon/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-2-15

Well you've got to hand it to the guy at his age going off in a canoe on his own and having no problems.

 

Sounds like he knows what he's doing.

I'm also 74 and have to admire Mr. Smith's adventurous spirit.

One of the challenges of this age is maintaining independence while at the same time, recognizing the reality of one's own increased vulnerability.

I live alone by choice.  I am fortunate to have a number of friends who somehow find an excuse to get in touch with me pretty much on a daily basis, whether by text, call or meeting up somewhere.  We don't really acknowledge that they are checking up on me but we know, that's what it is.  I am appreciative of their concern and friendship and I try to reciprocate by always letting them know my plans, not disappearing on them without any notice.

This really doesn't stop me from doing whatever it is I want to do, whether it is spontaneously jumping a bus to Pattaya or wherever or shacking up for a night or two with an entertaining companion.

Yes, it is a bit of an infringement on my autonomous self-sufficiency but growing old and remaining active has it's cost like anything else.   If the day ever comes that I find my self lying on my floor, unable to get up or in some other precarious situation wherein I can not help myself, I will be most grateful when my wonderful friends come knocking.  

 

I hope Mr. Smith appreciates his friend's actions and doesn't take the view that he was "meddling" in his affairs.  

fair play to him. Hope i'm able to be up to stuff like that at his age.

** makes those young back packers look like a proper bunch of amateurs

just one more night please 55

Hopefully no damaged striping on canoe when he returns it to owner !

1 hour ago, dddave said:

I'm also 74 and have to admire Mr. Smith's adventurous spirit.

One of the challenges of this age is maintaining independence while at the same time, recognizing the reality of one's own increased vulnerability.

I live alone by choice.  I am fortunate to have a number of friends who somehow find an excuse to get in touch with me pretty much on a daily basis, whether by text, call or meeting up somewhere.  We don't really acknowledge that they are checking up on me but we know, that's what it is.  I am appreciative of their concern and friendship and I try to reciprocate by always letting them know my plans, not disappearing on them without any notice.

This really doesn't stop me from doing whatever it is I want to do, whether it is spontaneously jumping a bus to Pattaya or wherever or shacking up for a night or two with an entertaining companion.

Yes, it is a bit of an infringement on my autonomous self-sufficiency but growing old and remaining active has it's cost like anything else.   If the day ever comes that I find my self lying on my floor, unable to get up or in some other precarious situation wherein I can not help myself, I will be most grateful when my wonderful friends come knocking.  

 

I hope Mr. Smith appreciates his friend's actions and doesn't take the view that he was "meddling" in his affairs.  

 

It is nice to know that people still care about others.

 

I am lucky as I have a wife and son who care plus friends and neighbours who keep an eye out for me.

Great story seems like a top bloke anybody any ideas as to the island ?

It's nice to read that Mikel Smith is ok.

29 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Great story seems like a top bloke anybody any ideas as to the island ?

Chorakae island, a small uninhabited island about 7 miles from the coast.

39 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Great story seems like a top bloke anybody any ideas as to the island ?

Koh chorakhe perhaps.

 

Not a great spot to search for islands, birds nest and islanders etc...

great guy! much more impressed by him than by those 70+ guys with a dark 29 year old around their neck 555

x

Hardcore British adventurer. Surprised he did not sink on account of his huge balls. Fairplay.

 

 

8 hours ago, Donotdisturb said:

great guy! much more impressed by him than by those 70+ guys with a dark 29 year old around their neck 555

x

Not so sure although going off canoeing at 74 is impressive,

walking around with a 29 year old and a canoe in your pocket is just as good and probably more fun

10 hours ago, billd766 said:

 

It is nice to know that people still care about others.

 

I am lucky as I have a wife and son who care plus friends and neighbours who keep an eye out for me.

1

    " Take your time for your friends before time's taking them away from you.'

Sometimes we all do something to prove to ourselves we are not finished.  I drove my Honda air blade Motor cycle 110 cc  from Udon to Pattaya at 70 years   632 kilometers  11 hours.  Enjoyed it,  but did not sit down when I arrived.  ha ha

hopefully he cleans up all trash when he returns to mainland

A troll post and several replies have been removed from this thread.

11 minutes ago, ginjag said:

Sometimes we all do something to prove to ourselves we are not finished.  I drove my Honda air blade Motor cycle 110 cc  from Udon to Pattaya at 70 years   632 kilometers  11 hours.  Enjoyed it,  but did not sit down when I arrived.  ha ha

Up for a race with a Yamaha 110 cc? Lol

10 hours ago, coulson said:

Koh chorakhe perhaps.

 

Not a great spot to search for islands, birds nest and islanders etc...

exactly my thought, Chumphon coastline must be one of the most boring places on Earth, why would you go Island hopping there?

Good luck to him!

20 minutes ago, AlQaholic said:

exactly my thought, Chumphon coastline must be one of the most boring places on Earth, why would you go Island hopping there?

 

Because nobody else is?

 

 

As the age of Mr Smith seems of most concern here it maybe worth noting that the citizens of the worlds richest and most powerful country have elected a man who will be the same age when he finishes his term... or maybe they never looked at his CV as it was irrelevant to the job anyway????

Just an old man doing what he likes to do. Nothing wrong with that. What he could have been doing was to inform his friends that he was going to spend a couple of nights camping.

Good on ya Mike.There have been many times I have thought of doing something like that.I think I would tell my friends where I am going though.I am 8yrs older than him but still get that urge to just get on the old bike and disappear for a few days.It is probably something to do with just being in Thailand.I would never think of doing such a thing back in New Zealand. Maybe it's the occasional frustration of not being able to do things here that are so easy "back home",or just the restrictions that we Farang find annoying and these things can just crop up in our daily routine and leave us so exasperated.I love it here and am happy with a house,a good wife,and a couple of motorbikes and a tuktuk.I feel that there is nothing else I either want or need,but the restrictions that I mentioned will always be there,and they do spoil it.

1 hour ago, AlQaholic said:

exactly my thought, Chumphon coastline must be one of the most boring places on Earth, why would you go Island hopping there?

Why do people spend their holidays in Pattaya, year after year.....???

14 hours ago, dddave said:

I'm also 74 and have to admire Mr. Smith's adventurous spirit.

One of the challenges of this age is maintaining independence while at the same time, recognizing the reality of one's own increased vulnerability.

I live alone by choice.  I am fortunate to have a number of friends who somehow find an excuse to get in touch with me pretty much on a daily basis, whether by text, call or meeting up somewhere.  We don't really acknowledge that they are checking up on me but we know, that's what it is.  I am appreciative of their concern and friendship and I try to reciprocate by always letting them know my plans, not disappearing on them without any notice.

This really doesn't stop me from doing whatever it is I want to do, whether it is spontaneously jumping a bus to Pattaya or wherever or shacking up for a night or two with an entertaining companion.

Yes, it is a bit of an infringement on my autonomous self-sufficiency but growing old and remaining active has it's cost like anything else.   If the day ever comes that I find my self lying on my floor, unable to get up or in some other precarious situation wherein I can not help myself, I will be most grateful when my wonderful friends come knocking.  

 

I hope Mr. Smith appreciates his friend's actions and doesn't take the view that he was "meddling" in his affairs.  

I also hope Mr. Smith inform some one of his movements so that he will not waste other peoples valuable time & resources in vain in the future.

8 minutes ago, ravip said:

I also hope Mr. Smith inform some one of his movements so that he will not waste other peoples valuable time & resources in vain in the future.

i live in paknam, chumphon. the main fishing port down here. i'm the only farang around here and everyone has been coming up to me and asking if i knew about it. their response has not been that he is wasting time. they just say. 'very strong' and 'good' with a thumbs up so maybe give the guy a break as the locals are cool with it. beats spending your retirement sat in front of the tv mate

At Last some good news . all the best to him 

10 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

i live in paknam, chumphon. the main fishing port down here. i'm the only farang around here and everyone has been coming up to me and asking if i knew about it. their response has not been that he is wasting time. they just say. 'very strong' and 'good' with a thumbs up so maybe give the guy a break as the locals are cool with it. beats spending your retirement sat in front of the tv mate

Mr Watcharin, who is the chief of maritime rescue unit, then organized a team of divers and volunteers to get on board of a speed boat to make a search in the sea off Pathiu district.

 

Cool... but the FACT remains that valuable time AND resources (public) were wasted.

Changed his name from Reggie Perrin a few years ago.........