15-Year-Old Boy Drowns While Swimming with Friends During School Holidays

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

A 15-year-old boy has drowned after swimming with a group of friends at a weir in Nong Phak Pang, Phu Khiao District, during the ongoing school holidays. This marks the second fatal drowning of a child in the province in recent weeks, prompting officials to call for stricter parental supervision.

The incident occurred around 16:00 on 7 May, when police from Phu Khiao Police Station and rescue volunteers from the Sawang Kunatham Chaiyaphum Foundation were alerted to the disappearance of a teenager who had been swept underwater while swimming in the overflow weir.

A total of five boys, all students on their school break, had reportedly gone swimming together. According to reports, the 15-year-old victim was suddenly pulled under in front of his friends, who screamed for help from nearby residents.

Rescue teams from both Phu Khiao and nearby Kaeng Khro districts were mobilised to search the weir. After more than two hours of underwater searching, the boy’s body was recovered just before 18:00. His body was handed over to his family for religious rites.

The weir where the drowning occurred is known for its treacherous conditions, with water depths ranging from 1 metre at the edges to over 25 metres at the centre.

This marks the second child drowning in Chaiyaphum province during the current school holiday period, following a similar incident in Thep Sathit District earlier this month.

In response, provincial authorities have issued renewed warnings to all village and community leaders to closely monitor children during the school break. Parents are being urged to supervise their children and discourage unsupervised swimming, especially in natural water bodies.

“Every year during the school holidays, we see a tragic rise in drowning incidents involving children,” a provincial spokesperson said. “We implore all parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children and strictly prohibit them from swimming alone or without adult supervision.”