When Nontakarn Tetngarmtuan was five years old his hometown of Nonthaburi was battered by floods. He was helping his grandmother repair a wooden bridge in his village when he fell into the water below and nearly drowned.
"I was scared because I didn't know how to swim," said Nontakarn, who is how 11 years of age and a 6th grader at Anuban Khoksisupan School in Sakon Nakhon.
"I was saved by my grandma but I didn't go near the water again for years."
Not every child is as lucky as Nontakarn. According to a Ministry of Public Health report published in 2014, drowning is a leading cause of death in children in Thailand.
The report revealed that on average 1,243 children under 15 years of age die from drowning each year -- or one every seven hours.
Swimming teachers at Huayprayai Padungvitaya School in Sakon Nakhon teach students they can use empty bottles to help float in the water to prevent themselves drowning. Photos by Metee Thuentap
The rate is roughly twice as high for boys as it is for girls and most cases happen during school holidays, the report said. It also shows that the northeastern region has the highest rate of child drownings in the country, followed by the central, northern and southern regions.
Fatalities peak during the Songkran festival in mid-April, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).
Experts said it is lamentable to see so many preventable child deaths and call for measures to address the situation.
In response, the Ministry of Education is working with Unicef and other partners to pilot the SwimSafe project at 20 schools in 10 provinces -- including Sakon Nakhon, Kanchanaburi, Nan, Phitsanulok and Satun -- representing all regions in the country.
These schools receive a portable pool and teacher training on how to get children to swim and equip them with the skills they need to survive in the water.
About 6,000 children are currently benefiting from this first phase of the programme.
"Our objective is not only to teach children how to swim," said Rangsun Wiboonuppatum, education officer at Unicef Thailand.
"We also want them to be safe, survive and thrive as stated in the [United Nations] Convention on the Rights of the Child," he said.
Survival skills include "shouting, throwing and extending", he added.
This refers to shouting for help when they see someone drowning, throwing them a large, empty plastic bottle to keep them buoyant, and using a stick or pole to try to pull the victim to dry land.
"These survival skills can be integrated into the national plan to prevent child deaths by drowning," said Mr Rangsun.
Seksan Somnoi, a teacher at Huayprayai Padungvitaya School in Sakon Nakhon, said the Northeast is riddled with creeks and swamps, meaning it is imperative kids learn how to stay above water.
He cited two tragic incidents where children's lives were lost. One occurred last year when three youngsters in Phon Na Kaeo district of Sakon Nakhon drowned. The other took place last month when the province was smashed by heavy rain and a child drowned playing in flood water.
"I'm thrilled to see our school receive a pool and support for swimming classes," he said. "Before, almost none of the kids here could swim but now over half can hold their own in the water."
He admitted it was a challenge to get them into the pool at first.
"Many cried because they were afraid," he said. "But they got used to being in the pool and now they love it."
'Extending' is one of the skills taught at swimming class at Huayprayai Padungvitaya School. It teaches children that they can extend long objects like a stick to help reach a victim and pull them to dry land. Above, students at Anuban Khoksisupan School learn swimming in a portable pool that Unicef provides under the SwimSafe project. Right, children enjoy a swimming lesson as they hold their breath and feel more at ease under water.
Siraphop Saenduang, a teacher at Anuban Khoksisupan School, which is also in the programme, said all 428 students have learned how to swim -- including those with disabilities.
"Children with slow learning abilities are also included in the swimming classes, but under special care," he said.
Wasoontara Paitakaew, a 6th grader, said she found the lessons useful and hoped to see other schools follow suit.
"I think it's important for all students," said Ms Wasoontara. "The lessons have already helped me, especially when our house was hit by floods in August."
Unicef gets feedback from the pilot schools in order to improve the programme. This includes lessons on how the swim safe curriculum is introduced and delivered, and what the impact is on children's swimming and water survival skills.
The agency said it continues to advocate for greater investment and training of school personnel so that all school children in Thailand can benefit from the programme.
"Water brings happiness to children, but it also has its hidden dangers," said Mr Rangsun. "We need to equip them with water survival skills so they can save themselves and others when an emergency happens."
Back in April, the DDC warned parents to remain vigilant during the Songkran festival.
Backing up the warning with figures, department director-general Jessada Chokdamrongsuk found that in total 176 children aged under 15 had drowned during Songkran from 2007 to 2016. At other times of the year, two or three children drown each day.
The DDC said some youngsters drown in boat accidents as they were travel with their families to celebrate the Songkran festival, which is held over a long weekend.
As travel demands surge during this time, boats are often overloaded and passengers must fight for life vests.
Other danger spots for child drownings are waterfalls, reservoirs and canals as these are popular areas for family trips, said the DDC.
Dr Jessada said safety zones must be designated at water-themed tourist attractions and danger signs erected. Parents should keep their children at a safe distance from waterways and ponds and firmly in their line of vision at all times, he said.
More buoyant equipment like empty gallon drums should be loaded on crafts and vessels to be used as safety tools, he added.
Lifeguards must also be stationed at water tourist spots while life jackets also provided, he said.
Youngsters take a break from their swimming class.