Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by Jeff Tomas
CHIANG RAI – Rescue teams have successfully saved a father and son from a dense forest in northern Thailand. The men originally went missing in the Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non National Park. Local officials officially confirmed their safe return from the woods on October 4, 2026. However, a third family member remains missing somewhere in the vast and dangerous mountain terrain.
Dedicated park rangers and volunteer rescue workers brought 32-year-old Saranyu Udyot down the mountain first. The young man was extremely weak and needed physical support from officers to walk safely. Soon after, search teams also successfully located his 57-year-old stepfather, a man named Boonseub Chaihang. Both men are now completely safe and resting quietly under close medical supervision.
Key Takeaways
- Two men were safely rescued from a deep forest in Chiang Rai on October 4, 2026.
- The eldest brother, 39-year-old Thanong Udyot, is currently still missing in the dense mountain woods.
- Search operations will resume with vital military support on October 5 at exactly 7:00 AM.
Missing Man Sparks Massive Search
The rescue operation remains highly active as search teams look for 39-year-old Thanong Udyot. He is the oldest brother in the family and the last missing person today. The three men initially entered the deep forest on October 2 to forage for wild goods. Sadly, Thanong became completely lost during their very first night sleeping in the woods.
This scary situation prompted his two family members to wander off to find him. As a direct result, Chiang Rai Governor Chucheep Pongchai quickly set up an emergency command center. This important rescue base is located in the Pong Pha subdistrict of Mae Sai district.
Warnings Ignored Before Forest Trip
Interestingly, park officials had directly warned the group before they went missing this week. Rangers met the three men on October 2 and took a quick photo with them. The officers strongly advised the group against entering the dangerous forest for their own safety. Despite this clear verbal warning, the men decided to go foraging for forest products anyway.
Authorities are certainly not giving up on finding the missing man in the forest. The provincial governor held a special meeting to carefully plan the very next steps. A new search mission will begin sharply at 7:00 AM on the morning of October 5. Soldiers from the Pha Muang Force will also join the rescue teams to find Thanong.
