Man Drowns While Trying to Rescue His Dog in Chanthaburi

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

An incident unfolded in Chanthaburi when a 67-year-old man drowned while attempting to save his beloved dog from a pond. The dog survived after being rescued by a neighbour, but the owner was later found lifeless at the bottom of the water.

 

At approximately 14:00 on 2 February, Police Captain Thanachet Phromtha, an investigator at Mueang Chanthaburi Police Station, received a report from the Sawang Katanyu Rescue Foundation about a drowning at a pond in an orchard on Soi Chedi 1, Tha Chang subdistrict. Police officers, forensic specialists from Phra Pok Klao Hospital, and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene.

 

The pond, lined with tarpaulin sheeting, measured around 20 by 20 metres, with water  depths ranging between one and two metres. Floating bamboo logs and dense duckweed obscured the visibility of the pond’s bottom, making it difficult to locate the victim. The pond owner later activated a water pump to lower the water level, allowing rescuers to rappel down with ropes to recover the body with great difficulty.

 

The deceased was identified as Mr. Boonmee Chuensonthi, 67. His niece, Ms. Areerat, 55, explained that the incident unfolded when Mr. Boonmee rushed to save his pet dog, Cola, a stray he had adopted a year ago. The dog had wandered too close to the pond, fallen in, and struggled to stay afloat.

 

While Cola managed to stay above water, Mr. Boonmee drowned in his attempt to rescue the animal. The dog was eventually saved by the pond’s owner, but at the time, no one realised that its owner had disappeared beneath the water.

 

Relatives described Mr. Boonmee as a devoted animal lover who had rescued and cared for many stray dogs. He had previously fallen into the water under similar circumstances while saving a dog but had survived. Despite warnings from family members to be more cautious, this time proved fatal.

 

Mr. Chatchaphon, 24, the owner of the pond, recalled discovering the scene. “I came to the orchard in the morning to turn on the water pump and noticed a reddish-brown dog struggling in the water. Nearby, I saw a floating hat and a single boot at the pond’s edge. I thought the dog might have been playing and accidentally fallen in, so I quickly rescued it.”

 

At the time, he had no idea that Mr. Boonmee had already drowned.

 

Later, Mr. Boonmee’s relatives arrived in search of him and recognised his hat, boot, and watering can near the pond. Concerned, they requested assistance from rescuers to check the water. Upon wading in and feeling beneath the surface, they discovered his lifeless body.

 

Authorities have since completed their investigation, and the body has been released to the family for funeral rites.

 

-- 2025-02-03

 

 

[flyingtlger]

 

RIP Kun Bunmee 🙏

[watchcat]

Really sad, hope the dog don't suffer too much.

[henryford1958]

Depth 1-2 metres, how can you drown?

[steven100]

silly old coot ....  the dog would have been fine,  dogs are excellent swimmers. 

[cdemundo]

Heart breaking.

[watchcat]

43 minutes ago, henryford1958 said:

Depth 1-2 metres, how can you drown?

 

20-30 cm is enough to drown.

 

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, henryford1958 said:

Depth 1-2 metres, how can you drown?

Probably because he could not swim.

There are not too many Thais taller than 2 metres.  

[realfunster]

As I commented on yet another child drowning last week - just look yet again at the dangerous pond design used.

Good swimmer or not, for a wet dog or person getting out of that PVC lined pool with steep and slippery sides is going to be a problem. Fatigue sets in and under you go.

 

I wish they would launch a public service announcement with some basic (non-expensive) guidance on how not to make your water retention pond a complete deathtrap for both people and animals...put in stepped (or at least non vertical) sides when digging, have a safety line anchored somewhere etc etc.