Grandfather and Grandson Drown While Fishing in Northeastern Thailand
A grandfather and his 12‑year‑old grandson drowned while fishing in a canal behind a dam in Pak Thong Chai, Nakhon Ratchasima. The boy fell into the water and, unable to swim, his grandfather jumped in to help, but both became entrapped and died. Their bodies were recovered the next day still entwined, and rescue teams brought them ashore for autopsy and funeral rites.
At 10:00 a.m. on October 17, searchers spotted a body floating about 300 metres from the last known position, roughly 100 metres from shore in the middle of the canal. Rescue divers from Huak 31 Nakhon Ratchasima and volunteer crews pulled the boy’s body aboard, only to find him still clutching his grandfather, whose legs were wrapped around the boy’s neck. Both bodies were then brought onto the boat and taken to shore. It is believed the boy fell while the boat was idling; unable to swim, he clung to his grandfather, who tried to support him by letting the boy stand on his shoulders and hold his neck. However, the grandfather, similar in build to the boy, could not bear the weight and ran out of strength, causing both to drown while still trying to help each other—a heartbreaking sight. The empty boat continued to drift with the current until villagers noticed it. Rescue crews brought the two bodies ashore amid family, relatives, and onlookers who had gathered for updates, only to face the grim reality that no miracle would occur. Police then handed the bodies over to Pak Thong Chai Hospital for autopsy as part of legal procedures before releasing them to relatives for religious rites.
