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American Jumps from Ferry, Evades Rescuers for an Hour

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Pictures courtesy of SiamChon 

 

A 36-year-old American sparked a rescue operation off the coast of Pattaya on the morning of 9 October, after leaping from a passenger ferry bound for Koh Larn and refusing help for more than an hour. The incident took place at around 09.20, as the ferry headed towards Tawaen Beach. Passengers and crew watched in shock as the man, identified only as Joshua, swam away and repeatedly gestured for rescuers to back off.

 

Witnesses said passengers immediately urged the captain to stop the vessel and assist the man. Kanlaya Motthong, who was onboard the ferry, said Joshua persistently swam in the opposite direction despite repeated calls for him to return. The captain alerted Pattaya Marine Rescue, triggering a coordinated response from Pattaya City police, Tourist Police and marine rescue teams.


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The man continued to resist, swimming away from rescuers and even jumping off the rescue boat three times after being pulled aboard. The chaotic scene lasted nearly an hour before rescuers were able to restrain him and bring him under control. The rescue operation caused a temporary disruption to ferry services in the busy tourist area.

 

Once ashore, Joshua told officials that he had jumped into the water because he “wanted to swim and return to Koh Larn on his own.” Authorities expressed concern over his erratic behaviour and escorted him to a nearby hospital for both physical and psychological evaluation. Officials said he was not visibly injured but appeared disoriented and uncooperative throughout the rescue.


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Police have yet to confirm whether Joshua will face any charges related to the disruption. Authorities are awaiting hospital reports to determine whether he was under the influence of substances or suffering from mental distress at the time.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• A 36-year-old American man jumped from a Pattaya ferry on 9 October 2025 and refused rescue attempts.

• He resisted rescuers for over an hour before being restrained and taken ashore.

• Authorities sent him to hospital for medical and psychological evaluation.

 

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image.png  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamChon 2025-10-10

 

 

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  • Replies 35
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  • I would have let him continue on his swim. 

  • He travelled all the way to Thailand to be trussed up like a pig in the back of a truck. This is what poor parenting of self-entitled millennials looks like. 

  • SAFETY FIRST
    SAFETY FIRST

    This idiot holds up the boat full of passengers for over an hour because he wanted to swim.    Poor passengers, on holiday, wanting to enjoy themselves on the island and this guy selfishly h

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1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

 leaping from a passenger ferry bound for Koh Larn and refusing help for more than an hour

 

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Joshua persistently swam in the opposite direction

 

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Joshua told officials that he had jumped into the water because he “wanted to swim and return to Koh Larn on his own

This idiot holds up the boat full of passengers for over an hour because he wanted to swim. 

 

Poor passengers, on holiday, wanting to enjoy themselves on the island and this guy selfishly holds them up. 

Ferries run on a tight schedule, passengers for the rest of the day will suffer now through delays 

 

Check him for drugs and assess for mental health issues. 

 

Another quality foreigner in Pattaya 

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I would have let him continue on his swim. 

Bloody looney wasting all those peoples time......

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He travelled all the way to Thailand to be trussed up like a pig in the back of a truck. This is what poor parenting of self-entitled millennials looks like. :coffee1:

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Once ashore, Joshua told officials that he had jumped into the water because he “wanted to swim and return to Koh Larn on his own.”

Why would anyone have a problem with this? Over dramatic fuss because the guy decided to swim back.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Once ashore, Joshua told officials that he had jumped into the water because he “wanted to swim and return to Koh Larn on his own.”

 

Forgot  to make his his 90days stamp or Tm30?

1 hour ago, Mike_Hunt said:

I would have let him continue on his swim. 

 

Right. See ya pal. Maybe throw in a life jacket and off the ferry goes. Hoooooooonk.

9 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Right. See ya pal. Maybe throw in a life jacket and off the ferry goes. Hoooooooonk.

Yep...

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Authorities are awaiting hospital reports to determine whether he was under the influence of substances

I think the likely cause & so he should suffer the full penalty for disrupting so many others' enjoyment.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A 36-year-old American sparked a rescue operation off the coast of Pattaya on the morning of 9 October, after leaping from a passenger ferry bound for Koh Larn and refusing help for more than an hour.

Okay Sir... enjoy your swim

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Not a word of thanks for those who were concerned for his safety. A self-entitled jerk.

Send this skint tramp back on the first flight to Chicago!

 

ICE'll skool his wicked axrse in no time.  💯% on

2 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds said:

Send this skint tramp back on the first flight to Chicago!

 

ICE'll skool his wicked axrse in no time.  💯% on

 

 As you have so pointedly reminded everyone, ICE unjustifiably and illegally attacks American citizens (like this guy.)  :clap2:

5 hours ago, Mike_Hunt said:

I would have let him continue on his swim. 

ha ha, well yes I suppose that was an option but this nut job clearly needs  help, he's not playing with a full deck, when he is stable he needs to be deported and blacklisted

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Cannabis psychosis is real.

5 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

 

 

This idiot holds up the boat full of passengers for over an hour because he wanted to swim. 

 

Poor passengers, on holiday, wanting to enjoy themselves on the island and this guy selfishly holds them up. 

Ferries run on a tight schedule, passengers for the rest of the day will suffer now through delays 

 

Check him for drugs and assess for mental health issues. 

 

Another quality foreigner in Pattaya 

He was obviously not quite the full quid and probably full of some drug, this is the first time in over 20 years in Thailand I have ever heard of such a mad act

A scam or mad person a day keeps the tourists away 

 

 

 

 

So sad some people have these mental problems that force strangers to help them.

35 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

He was obviously not quite the full quid and probably full of some drug, this is the first time in over 20 years in Thailand I have ever heard of such a mad act

Naked Russian attempted to swim the bay. 

Another lunatic 

 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2024/12/09/russian-tourists-risky-swim-to-koh-laan-ends-in-rescue/

 

You don't do anything "on your own" in Thailand. There needs to be a Thai helping you. Wrong country.

Once he refused rescue, they should have let him go.  Recover his drown body in the morning. 

I think perhaps he just simply ran out of his medication. No sane person would do something like this, if nothing else just the consumption of other people's time alone makes him a grandstanding fool. 

 

And he likely didn't even have enough self-awareness to be embarrassed about the whole thing. 

11 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A 36-year-old American, who had in just days after arriving in Thailand spent all his money on weed, hookers, and booze,  sparked a rescue operation off the coast of Pattaya on the morning of 9 October, after leaping from a passenger ferry...

There, fixed it for ya.

 

11 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

 

They probably would have been sued if the Captain left him there; however, if the idiot was a so called “INFLUENCER” I would have left him laws suit or not.  

5 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Cannabis psychosis is real.

Come on now.
He was clearly trying to channel his inner Leonardo DiCaprio. After watching "The Beach" the night before, he probably thought he'd give it a shot in Pattaya.
Any regular cannabis user would be too tired to go for a swimmore likely they'd grab another beer and relax during the ferry ride instead

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