Tragedy as 15-Year-Old Kayak Athlete Drowns During Training in Samut Prakan Canal
A 15-year-old kayak athlete drowned during training in a Samut Prakan canal on April 28 while preparing for the National Youth Games; his leg became trapped when his kayak capsized and no one witnessed the accident.
A 15-year-old kayak athlete representing Samut Prakan province drowned while practicing in a canal on the evening of April 28. The Samut Prakan Rescue Command received an emergency call about an unconscious student in the water near a canal behind Nawamintharachinuthist Preparatory School in Bang Bo district. Rescue personnel and an ambulance from Bang Bo Hospital were immediately dispatched to the scene.
The victim, identified as Poo Gan, a 15-year-old kayak athlete at the school, was found unresponsive with no pulse. Rescue workers performed CPR before urgently transporting him to Bang Saothong Hospital.
More than 10 fellow kayak team members, who were training alongside the victim, were devastated by the tragedy. Some broke down in tears while hugging each other, and others sat in shock by the waterside. Rescue personnel and coaches had to provide close supervision and emotional support to the grief-stricken young athletes.
According to interviews with his teammates, the victim and his fellow athletes were provincial representatives preparing to compete in the 41st National Youth Games, also known as "Surat Thani Games," scheduled for May 7-17, 2025, in Surat Thani province. Training had begun around 4:00 PM, with the victim practicing kayak alone. When his teammates' boat returned to shore about 3-5 minutes later, they discovered his kayak capsized in the canal with no sign of him. Teammates rushed to search and found him submerged. They pulled him to shore and attempted CPR, but he was unresponsive.
The victim was normally healthy and strong. Preliminary investigation suggests he may have suffered fainting or heat stroke while paddling. When the kayak flipped, his leg became trapped inside the overturned boat. Because no one witnessed the incident and nearby neighbors were elderly residents resting indoors, he could not be rescued immediately.
Rescue officials confirmed that when they arrived at the scene, teachers and teammates had already been performing CPR. However, the victim had no pulse upon their arrival. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
