Miraculous Sea Rescue: Myanmar Fisherman Found Alive After 6 Hours Adrift

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

A Myanmar crewman narrowly escaped death after falling overboard in the early hours of the morning and drifting for nearly six hours in rough seas off the coast of Satun province.

At approximately 06:00 on 23 May, the Satun Port Control Centre received an emergency report of a missing crew member from the fishing vessel Singh Decho 5, a pair trawler operating in Satun waters. The crewman, later identified as Mr. Mauso Tonoo, a  Myanmar national, was believed to have gone overboard between 03:00 and 05:00 during a night of turbulent seas.

Vice Admiral Suwat Donsakul, Director of the Naval Operations Command for Maritime Security in Region 3 (NRSA Region 3), issued an immediate search order. Captain Ratphon Kaewkrajai, head of Satun’s Coastal Security Control Centre (CSCC), led the rescue operation, deploying the high-speed patrol vessel NRSA 4006.

A breakthrough came at 08:45 when Singh Decho 5 reported spotting Mr. Tonoo floating near the fishing zone. The crew successfully pulled him aboard, triggering cheers of relief and joy from those on board.

Video footage of the dramatic rescue, bringing Mr. Tonoo to safety, quickly went viral on social media. The incident has been widely praised as a testament to the readiness and coordination of Thailand’s maritime emergency services, in coordinating the successful rescue.

Authorities stressed that Mr. Tonoo’s survival was extraordinary and not a guarantee for those who do not take proper safety precautions.His story stands as both a good news tale and a powerful reminder of the ever-present dangers at sea.