Welsh Backpacker's Thailand Kayaking Tragedy: Inquest Findings

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

A heart-rending tragedy unfolded on a serene Thailand morning as British backpacker Shanghaman Gowribalan, 24, drowned after his kayak capsized in Cheow Lan Dam, Surat Thani. The Swansea-raised engineer set out on what was meant to be an adventurous excursion on 11 February 2024, only for it to turn into a desperate search-and-rescue effort.

 

Gowribalan, who embarked on the journey with a friend, faced catastrophe when his kayak began taking on water. About 500 metres from their accommodation, the vessel overturned in the reservoir, part of a lush Khao Sok National Park. His mate's frantic calls for help initiated a search lasting three days, culminating in the discovery of Gowribalan's body on Valentine’s Day.

 

 

The inquest at Swansea Guildhall revealed critical oversights; the tourists failed to register and acquire lifejackets for their kayaking venture. Thai authorities confirmed the lack of formal safety measures. A post-mortem highlighted significant findings of water and sewage in Gowribalan’s lungs, confirming accidental drowning.

 

Coroner Aled Gruffydd led the inquest, expressing profound sympathies to the bereaved family and emphasizing the preventable nature of this tragic loss. The young man's zest for travel and his accomplished, bright life left a poignant void for those he left behind, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-06

 

 

[Peabody]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A post-mortem highlighted significant findings of water and sewage in Gowribalan’s lungs

WTF!?

[newbee2022]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Picture courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

A heart-rending tragedy unfolded on a serene Thailand morning as British backpacker Shanghaman Gowribalan, 24, drowned after his kayak capsized in Cheow Lan Dam, Surat Thani. The Swansea-raised engineer set out on what was meant to be an adventurous excursion on 11 February 2024, only for it to turn into a desperate search-and-rescue effort.

 

Gowribalan, who embarked on the journey with a friend, faced catastrophe when his kayak began taking on water. About 500 metres from their accommodation, the vessel overturned in the reservoir, part of a lush Khao Sok National Park. His mate's frantic calls for help initiated a search lasting three days, culminating in the discovery of Gowribalan's body on Valentine’s Day.

 

 

 

The inquest at Swansea Guildhall revealed critical oversights; the tourists failed to register and acquire lifejackets for their kayaking venture. Thai authorities confirmed the lack of formal safety measures. A post-mortem highlighted significant findings of water and sewage in Gowribalan’s lungs, confirming accidental drowning.

 

Coroner Aled Gruffydd led the inquest, expressing profound sympathies to the bereaved family and emphasizing the preventable nature of this tragic loss. The young man's zest for travel and his accomplished, bright life left a poignant void for those he left behind, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-06

 

 

Bad Karma.

Even a good education (engineer) doesn't prevent you to do stupid things

[PETERTHEEATER]

12 hours ago, Peabody said:

WTF!?

I'm guessing there are a few waterside 'resorts' in the area discharging waste into the lake.

[jcmj]

If he just wore a life jacket there wouldn’t be a story. Better safe than sorry. RIP regardless. 

[hotchilli]

15 minutes ago, jcmj said:

If he just wore a life jacket there wouldn’t be a story. Better safe than sorry. RIP regardless. 

Better to stay on dry land if you can't navigate water too well

[NORDO]

Many years of Kayaking in Arctic rivers and ocean.   Been tumbled upside down by waves as if I washing in a washing machine.  

Capsized by seals and chased by angry otters.   The saving grace has always been a proper sized Kayakers floatation jacket

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

I'm guessing there are a few waterside 'resorts' in the area discharging waste into the lake.

 

Pattaya being a prominent resort, but into the sea, not a lake.

[impulse]

3 hours ago, NORDO said:

The saving grace has always been a proper sized Kayakers floatation jacket

 

I get that in cold climes.  But I wonder which is more likely to kill you.  Is it the one in a million chance of drowning, or the one in ?? chance of overheating in the tropical sun wearing a heart insulator that keeps the heat in while you're exerting yourself paddling to beat the band? 

 

Years ago in Texas, I made the personal decision to keep the life jacket at hand, but not wear it because they're too hot in the scorching sun.  If it's cooler out, I wear them, pre adjusted because they're mine.

 

Added to that was the absolute sweaty stench of a typical rental life jacket.  I used to rent canoes on the Guadelupe River and the rental life jackets smelled like they'd never been defunked of BO.  It was enough to gag a maggot. 

 

In Thailand, I always carried my own when kayaking (and even to rent a canoe at Lumpini and QSNCC), but that's because I lived there.

 

Edit:  I'd add that the one place I did wear a life jacket kayaking in Thailand was Kanchanaburi by the famous bridge.  The guys who ran the hotels told me that they enforce that law strictly.  But I never found out...

 

[thesetat]

On 3/6/2025 at 4:39 PM, snoop1130 said:

A post-mortem highlighted significant findings of water and sewage in Gowribalan’s lungs, confirming accidental drowning.

how does this confirm it was accidental. The man could have been drowned in the water that contained sewage by the other guy or someone else. presumptuous comment to say the least. I am extremely curious how a kayak sinks? They are made to take on water normally without sinking. 

[Harrisfan]

Life jackets are standard on kayak tours. I've done two. The guy choose not to wear one which is stupid.

[dddave]

On 3/7/2025 at 12:03 PM, NORDO said:

Many years of Kayaking in Arctic rivers and ocean.   Been tumbled upside down by waves as if I washing in a washing machine.  

Capsized by seals and chased by angry otters.   The saving grace has always been a proper sized Kayakers floatation jacket

Before I was allowed to participate in a kayaking excursion in Canada I was required to demonstrate roll-over recovery skills and re-entering the kayak.  This should be required for all open water as well as river rentals.

[BritManToo]

Water sports are dangerous even if wearing a lifejacket.

So many people don't think of their training and safety.

[frank83628]

On 3/6/2025 at 7:55 PM, Peabody said:

WTF!?

Yeah, doesn't say much for khao son does it.

[frank83628]

2 hours ago, thesetat said:

how does this confirm it was accidental. The man could have been drowned in the water that contained sewage by the other guy or someone else. presumptuous comment to say the least. I am extremely curious how a kayak sinks? They are made to take on water normally without sinking. 

Seeing as its 3rd hand info as best, would imagine some info gets lost in translation. 

Not every death is suspicious 

[Captain Flack]

A reported racist post has been removed @albany
 

@Harrisfan more off topic trolling, your are trying my patience!

[BusyB]

On 3/7/2025 at 6:03 AM, NORDO said:

Many years of Kayaking in Arctic rivers and ocean.   Been tumbled upside down by waves as if I washing in a washing machine.  

Capsized by seals and chased by angry otters.   The saving grace has always been a proper sized Kayakers floatation jacket

 

In the junior infantry they taught us to right a capsized kayak with the paddle. I hated it to begin with but it was fun once I'd mastered it.

[AngryMan]

It's probably best not to state the obviouse here...

But Welsh! I doubt it!