Germans Rescued after their Catamaran “Capsized and Sank” in Gulf of Thailand

 

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT – Two German men narrowly escaped death after their sailboat was swamped and capsized in the Gulf of Thailand, stranding them in the sea off Khanom district late on Thursday night.

The small catamaran capsized in the gulf in Khanom district about two nautical miles (3.7km) from the shore, said Pol Lt Col Winai Nimfak, marine police investigation chief in Khanom district. It was reported to police around 11pm.

Rescuers sent to look for the two men found them floating in the sea, holding onto the capsized boat. They were taken aboard a rescue boat about one hour after being cast adrift.

The rescuers then tried unsuccessfully to tow the water-filled sailboat ashore, said Pol Lt Col Winai. Marine police and municipal officials on board a patrol boat and a rubber boat following the rescue boat took the tourists on board and managed to also take the sailboat to shore.

The Germans — Bernd Dieter Dassel, 64, and Karl-Heinz Messerer, 59 — told police that they had bought the boat on Thursday. After checking its condition, they set sail from Koh Samui in Surat Thani, heading for Khanom district.

On the way, water suddenly entered their boat, causing it to sink, the tourists said. They managed to hold on to the boat and contacted their friends on Koh Samui to alert marine police for help.

Police believed the sailboat was not in good condition, despite what the two men thought. Wind waves also swamped the boat, causing it to sink. The two men were fortunate not to drown.

The tourists thanked marine police and officials from all concerned agencies for saving their lives.

By Nujaree Raekrun
Bangkok Post