Man Dies After Racing Boat Crashes into Pontoon and Sinks in Nonthaburi Canal

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

A 51-year-old man drowned after his homemade racing boat crashed into a pontoon and sank in a canal in Nonthaburi Province on the afternoon of 29 April.

The incident occurred at around 14:00 near the Wat Sa Lee Kho pier in Bang Phlap Subdistrict, Pak Kret District. Police from Pak Kret Police Station responded to the emergency call and coordinated with rescue divers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation to search for the missing man, whose boat sank after a high-speed collision with a private riverside pontoon.

At the scene, officials found visible damage to a steel pontoon attached to a local residence and scattered wooden debris believed to be from the racing boat. According to reports, the vessel was a boat designed by the victim himself for competitive racing. He had taken the boat out for a trial run but never returned.

Witnesses described the crash as sudden and violent. Mr. Roj, a ferry boat driver who witnessed the crash, said he was in the process of dropping off passengers when he saw the racing boat approach at high speed and collide diagonally with the pontoon. The impact caused the vessel to sink rapidly. “I tried to steer my boat over to help, but it was too late. He and the boat were gone in seconds,” Roj recounted.

Mr. Natthawut, the 30-year-old son of the missing man, confirmed that the vessel was a personal project his father had built in preparation for upcoming boat races. “He just wanted to take it out for a spin. It wasn’t a full test run or anything serious,” he said tearfully.

CCTV footage from nearby has captured the moment of the collision, showing the boat crashing into the pontoon with considerable force. Investigators suspect the driver may have been knocked unconscious by the impact and drowned as the boat submerged.

Rescue teams searched the area for several hours before locating the body. Police have launched a formal investigation and will use CCTV footage and witness statements to determine the full cause of the crash.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-04-30.