Rangsit Canal Drowning: Student Dies After Falling In

Pictures courtesy of SiamNews

A 16-year-old boy drowned in Rangsit Prayoonsak Canal after slipping into deep water while sitting with friends beneath a bridge in Pathum Thani, prompting a search operation that recovered his body about an hour later. The incident occurred on 21 January under the Chomphu Bridge near Soi Rangsit–Nakhon Nayok 30, in Prachathipat subdistrict, Thanyaburi district. Police confirmed the death at the scene after the body was brought ashore for examination.

According to police, the teenager was a student at Prachathipat School and had met two friends after school to sit and swim under the bridge. The other boys were aged 13, a student at Thanyaburi School and 15, a student at Ritthiya School, and the three were friends from different year groups. Items belonging to the students, including a mat, water bottles and clothing, were found under the bridge.

Police were alerted to the disappearance and coordinated with divers and volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation to search the canal. The body was located in the middle of the canal, about 20 metres from the bridge, after approximately one hour of diving. Officers then secured the area as onlookers gathered nearby.

An initial statement from the 13-year-old witness said the group had been sitting on concrete beams beneath the bridge when the victim attempted to move to the canal bank to join his friends. As he stepped forward, he was seen slipping and then got pulled to the right by the current, and a friend tried to reach him but could not. The witness said he attempted to call for help, but the victim had already disappeared beneath the water.

Police said preliminary assessments suggest the victim was not a strong swimmer and fall onto muddy ground beneath the water and was pulled into a deeper point and was unable to get out, due to the current. The current is believed to have contributed to the rapid submersion, preventing rescue despite immediate attempts by friends.

SiamNews reported that officers contacted the boy’s mother to formally confirm his identity and complete procedures. After documentation and examination, the body will be released to relatives for religious rites. Police said inquiries with the two friends have been completed and no foul play is suspected.

Key Takeaways

• A 16-year-old student drowned in Rangsit Prayoonsak Canal on 21 January while visiting with friends.

• Divers found the body about one hour later, 20 metres from the bridge where the incident occurred.

• Police believe the victim slipped on muddy ground and was pulled under by the current.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from Siamnews 2026-01-23