Five-Year-Old Found Dead in Hat Yai Canal After Going Missing

Picture courtesy of Amarin

A five-year-old boy, known as “Nong Inter,” was found dead in the U-Tapao Canal in Hat Yai, southern Thailand, on 18 September 2025, roughly 20 hours after he went missing. The child’s disappearance had prompted a local search, leaving his parents devastated.

Nong Inter, described as a child with special needs who could recognise his own name but had limited communication, was last seen at 16:00 on 17 September 2025 in the Hat Yai area, wearing a camouflage shirt and maroon-red three-quarter trousers. His disappearance was reported via a Facebook group seeking public assistance in locating him.

Local residents discovered the boy’s body at 09:50 on 18 September 2025, approximately 200 metres from U-Turbo Pier on Sakon Mongkhon 2 Road. Rescue teams from the Mittrapap Samakee Foundation (Tung Sia Chiang Tieng) were called in, with divers recovering the body and transferring it to Hat Yai Hospital’s forensic unit. Police, led by Lt. Chaiyakit Thongkham of Hat Yai Police Station and the duty doctor examined the scene.

According to rescue worker Kittinai Choonphan, Nong Inter had been playing with a basket near the canal while his father was occupied repairing a motorcycle. The father recounted that he briefly lost sight of his son, who was the youngest in the household, before realising he was missing. The boy’s stepmother confirmed she had stepped away to use the bathroom, prompting immediate searches and social media alerts.

The body has been sent for a full forensic examination to determine the precise circumstances of death. Police continue to investigate the incident to confirm details.

Key Takeaways

• Nong Inter, a five-year-old with special needs, was found dead in Hat Yai’s U-Tapao Canal.

• The child went missing on 17 September 2025 after briefly being unsupervised.

• Rescue teams recovered the body and transferred it to the Hat Yai Hospital forensic unit.

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-09-19