On Sunday, June 9, around 4:50 p.m., a family outing turned tragic at Nai Harn Beach in Rawai, Phuket. James Everett Du Bois, a 49-year-old American, was swept away by a powerful wave while playing in the water with his three-year-old son, Boonpat. Despite rescue efforts, only the young boy was safely brought back to shore, leaving Mr. Du Bois missing.
Mr. Du Bois’ Thai wife, Siriamon, and their three children were present during the incident. According to her account, the family was approximately 10 meters from the shore when sudden, large waves struck, pulling Mr. Du Bois and their son into the sea. Siriamon managed to swim back to shore on her own, while lifeguards quickly rescued Boonpat.
Challenging weather conditions, including waves over three meters high and strong winds, hampered the search operations. Rescue teams from the Phuket Kusolkatham Foundation and Rawai Municipality were mobilized but had to suspend their efforts at nightfall for safety reasons. The search was scheduled to resume the following morning, Monday, June 10.
Rawai Mayor Arun Soros, along with Deputy Mayor Nikorn Papakityotphat, inspected the site and oversaw the operations. Mayor Soros stated that the rough sea conditions of the day were the primary cause of the accident. Yellow and red flags, indicating that swimming was permitted with caution, were in place. In particularly dangerous areas, red flags prohibiting swimming had been planted.
This tragic incident underscores the importance of beach safety measures, especially in unstable weather conditions. Local authorities urge tourists to adhere to safety warnings and remain vigilant against rapidly changing sea conditions.
