Philippine man drowns in Chao Phraya River

Philippine man drowns in Chao Phraya River

Rescue workers look for a Philippine man after he jumped overboard from a boat into the Chao Phraya River in Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan province on Saturday night. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)
Rescue workers look for a Philippine man after he jumped overboard from a boat into the Chao Phraya River in Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan province on Saturday night. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)

SAMUT PRAKAN -- A young Philippine man was believed to have drowned after he jumped overboard from a boat into the Chao Phraya River in Phra Pradaeng district late on Saturday night, police said.

Samrong Tai police in Phra Pradaeng district were informed of the incident shortly after midnight.  A rescue team from a charity foundation with divers, diving equipment and a lighting system was despatched to the scene in the Chao Phraya River, about 100 metres from the boat pier of Wat Bang Hua Sua temple.

One of the boat's crew members, Glory Marugame, told police that he saw the man, Silvester Kristoffer Depusoy, 25, take off his shirt, pants and a pair of sandals before jumping overboard into the Chao Phraya River.

They said they threw a life buoy to him, but the man refused to take it.  Instead, he lifted both hands over his head before disappearing into the river before their eyes.

The crew alterted the boat skipper, who quickly called the marine police for help.

The crew said the young man was a nephew of the owner of the boat, and had worked on the boat as a waiter. They had no idea what prompted him to apparently take his own life.

The search was not successful because of the strong water currents.  


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