Policeman Survives 12 Hours Adrift on Broken Jet Ski

A police officer in Narathiwat survived 12 hours drifting at sea after his jet ski broke down during a test run off Narathat Beach. The officer, identified as Pol Snr Sgt Maj Nawapol Tharamak, was found alive but severely dehydrated on the morning of March 6 after a large search operation overnight.

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Rescuers discovered the 40-year-old officer floating in the sea with his jet ski about 1.5 nautical miles off Ban Thon Beach in Khok Khian subdistrict, Mueang Narathiwat district. He was reported to be weak and suffering from dehydration but otherwise in stable condition when found. An ambulance from Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Hospital transported him from the Marine Police pier for further medical examination.

The incident began on March 5 at around 3.30pm when Nawapol launched his jet ski for a test after completing repairs. He entered the water at Narathat Beach near the mouth of the Bang Nara River in Bang Nak subdistrict. According to his family, he normally returned home by around 7pm, but by 9.30pm they had lost contact with him and reported him missing.

Earlier, relatives had already started searching for him, but were unable to locate him. Marine police later found his black Isuzu MU-X SUV, registration from Songkhla, parked near the river with a trailer used to transport the jet ski attached. His mobile phone and personal belongings were still inside the vehicle.

At about 10pm on March 5, Pol Lt Col Burachat Liamchat, inspector of Marine Police Station 3, Division 7, ordered officers to deploy the patrol boat RN49 to search nearby waters. Teams searched southwards around Ao Manao in front of Khao Tanyong, covering a distance of 4.5 nautical miles, as well as northwards from Narathat Beach to Ban Thon Beach over the same distance. The search was suspended late that night after no trace was found.

At around 9.30am on March 6, patrol vessel 531 resumed operations and eventually located Nawapol and his jet ski drifting at coordinates 6′31″55.9 N 101′47″19 E. The location was approximately 1.5 nautical miles offshore from Ban Thon Beach.

Authorities confirmed the officer’s condition was stable, though he was weak after spending the night at sea without water. He was transferred to Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Hospital for treatment and further observation. Kaoded reported that officials have not yet released further details about the cause of the jet ski malfunction.

Pictures courtesy of kaoded

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Kaoded 7 Mar 2026

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