Young Man Swept Away by Flash Flood After GPS Leads Couple Down Shortcut

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

A young man remains missing after a flash flood swept him off a spillway in Surat Thani, Thailand, during a motorcycle journey with his girlfriend. The couple had relied on GPS for navigation, which directed them onto a flooded shortcut.

 

Authorities, led by Chawalit Rojanarattanachai, the District Chief of Chaiya, have mobilised nearly 100 officers, including police, rescue workers, and local community leaders, to search for 21-year-old Mr. Petchrat. The incident occurred as Mr. Petchrat and his girlfriend, Ms. Pin were travelling from Bangkok to Phuket on their motorcycle.

 

The pair left Bangkok on the evening of 28 December. At around 05:15 on 29 December, while passing through Chaiya district, GPS navigation redirected them to a small road along an irrigation canal. After 500 metres, the couple encountered flash flooding with water levels around 30 cm on the road. As they reached a spillway with water levels rising to approximately 80 cm and fast currents, the motorcycle was overturned and swept away.

 

Ms. Pin was fortunate to be carried by the current to a shallower area and survived. However, Mr. Petchrat was pulled under by the floodwaters and has not been seen since. Rescue teams have recovered only a helmet and a backpack belonging to him.

 

Ms. Pin, who is still in shock, told rescuers that she and her boyfriend were using GPS to navigate to his father’s home in Phuket when the incident occurred. She has been unable to provide further details.

 

Chaiya District Chief Chawalit has issued a warning to travellers in southern Thailand, urging them to avoid secondary roads due to heavy rainfall and flash floods in many areas. He emphasised the importance of sticking to main highways, which, while under repair in some sections, remain safer than narrow, flood-prone backroads.

 

The victim’s aunt, who travelled from Phuket to join the search, revealed that her nephew had called her at around 04:15 asking for the location of her family home. She shared the details with him, but within 40 minutes, she received news of the incident. She has since arrived at the scene with Mr. Petchrat’s father to assist with the search efforts.

 

Authorities continue to scour the area, but as of now, there has been no sign of the missing man.

 

-- 2024-12-30

 

 

[black tabby12345]

Shortcut to the hell...

[billd766]

From what I remember when I used my Garmin GPS, is that you can select your destination, select your mode of transport. and select the type of route you want. The option is always yours. 

 

If the water is already 30cm deep, and getting deeper, the best idea is to do a U turn and go back to where it is drier, then re-plan your route.

 

The other option would be to look where you are going and not rely exclusively on the GPS.

 

Also updating the GPS every so often helps too.

 

GPS is only a driving aid but there is no better way than keeping alert and your eyes open.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

while passing through Chaiya district, GPS navigation redirected them to a small road along an irrigation canal. After 500 metres, the couple encountered flash flooding with water levels around 30 cm on the road. As they reached a spillway with water levels rising to approximately 80 cm and fast currents, the motorcycle was overturned and swept away.

At which point you turn around and find another way

[Tropicalevo]

30 minutes ago, billd766 said:

From what I remember when I used my Garmin GPS, is that you can select your destination, select your mode of transport. and select the type of route you want. The option is always yours. 

 

If the water is already 30cm deep, and getting deeper, the best idea is to do a U turn and go back to where it is drier, then re-plan your route.

 

The other option would be to look where you are going and not rely exclusively on the GPS.

 

Also updating the GPS every so often helps too.

 

GPS is only a driving aid but there is no better way than keeping alert and your eyes open.

 

Most folk use Google maps on their phone.

Quite often unreliable off the main routes.

[sherwood]

Haha.

Another positive result for the gene pool.

 

[spidermike007]

Lesson #1. Never attempt to cross a raging river on a motorbike, much less a car. You always have the option of turning around and finding another route. 

 

That kind of logic is always superior to sacrificing one's life. Blame GPS all you want, the reality is it was a complete lack of common sense that got this guy and his girl killed. 

[Briggsy]

2 up from Bangkok to Phuket and not knowing the way. I wonder what they were riding. Not a lot of preparation. Even his helmet came off apparently.

[watchcat]

On 1/1/2025 at 11:28 AM, Briggsy said:

2 up from Bangkok to Phuket and not knowing the way.

 

I always use a paper map, but in this case they couldn't read a papermap as they where born in thailand.