Fisherman survives two days lost at sea after falling from boat

A fisherman survived floating in the sea under the scorching sun for two days after falling from his boat.

Sunthorn Khaosom, 56, was fishing with his crewmates when their boat, the R. Chainavee, was battered by strong winds off Satun province, southern Thailand, on September 3.

The vessel was said to have tilted and plunged Sunthorn into the water while he was walking on the deck. The sailor said he tried calling out to his friends but the sound of the waves drowned out his screams for help.

He switched between floating and swimming in the intense 35C heat before pulling himself onto a rocky island, where he was seen by a passing vessel.

He said: 'I prayed and vowed to become a monk if I survived. I conserved my energy by alternating between floating and swimming. I even came across a bottle of sugarcane juice floating in the water. It was like a miracle.

'I fell asleep drifting in the sea that night. When I woke up, the waves had carried me toward Koh Bulon island.'

Sunthorn said he pulled himself ashore but found no sign of civilisation nearby. He said he slept in a tree as numerous monitor lizards were lurking on the ground. Staff of the Koh Bulon Mai Phai National Park found Sunthorn while he was walking along the shore. They notified the Third Naval Area Command and a boat was sent to pick up the exhausted fisherman.

He was taken to the Langku Naval Station where his worried family was waiting.

Sunthorn said: 'I survived because I thought of my faith and my family waiting for me at home. As promised, I will ordain as a monk at the Wat Bang Ya Phraek temple.'

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.