- Shanghaman Gowribalan, 24, was kayaking at Rajjaprabha Dam with a friend
A British tourist is missing in Thailand after falling into a reservoir during a kayaking trip as divers continued to search the 50m deep waters after his friend raised the alarm yesterday.
Shanghaman Gowribalan, 24, was kayaking with his friend at Rajjaprabha Dam in Surat Thani province on Sunday afternoon, February 11, around 9am.
The Briton then reportedly fell into the deepest part of the reservoir, about 500 meters away from the Kraisorn Raft House, and was unable to swim to safety.
His panicked friend, also from Britain, rowed back to shore and begged park authorities for help.
Police and rescue teams are now using sonar to search for Mr Gowribalan, and had still not found him by Monday afternoon, some 24 hours after he first went missing.
24-year-old British tourist Shanghaman Gowribalan reportedly fell into the deepest part of the reservoir, about 500 meters away from the Kraisorn Raft House
Police and rescue teams are now using sonar to search underwater and had still not found him by Monday afternoon
A friend of Shanghaman Gowribalan is conducting a search with the Thai police
Worapote Lomlim, the local park director, said: ‘Initial investigations suggest the two tourists may have violated park rules.
‘To be able to paddle a kayak, you must first register. You will then receive a paddle and life jacket from the staff.
‘No registration was found. We suspect that the two tourists left early in the morning without wearing life jackets.
“Therefore, the head of Khao Sok National Park will investigate the facts.”
Worapote added that the area where the man fell was up to 50 meters deep and the water was “very cold”.
Friends of Mr Gowribalan with Thai police at Rajjaprabha Dam reservoir
Rescue teams are searching for a British tourist who fell into the water while kayaking on a reservoir in Thailand
Divers were deployed to search the waters, but the operation was temporarily suspended due to safety concerns due to the depth of the dam
Divers were deployed to search the waters, but the operation was temporarily suspended due to safety concerns due to the depth, cold temperature and turbidity of the dam. The search and rescue operation resumed today, February 12.
Boonruang Longlaluad, head of the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Bureau, said the provincial governor has ordered experts from neighboring teams to assist in the search.
More divers from Koh Tao island and Chonburi province in the east of the country arrived on site today.