In Muang district of Udon Thani late on Saturday night, a 77-year-old Scottish man was saved eight hours after his kayak sank in a stream and he was carried away by strong currents to a muddy islet.
Around 3 p.m. the man reported to the 191 police radio center that his kayak had sunk in the Lam Huai Luang stream and that he had been swept in an unknown direction.
Around 11 p.m. on Saturday, police from Na Kha police station, tourist police, rescue personnel, and locals started looking for him. They eventually located him on Nong Bor Khlon islet.
In order to remove him off the muddy islet, rescue personnel rode a jetski through bamboo trees.
He was only known to the police as Martin, a 77-year-old Scottlander. He was transferred to a nearby hospital and had bruises on his body, and appeared worn out.
Police and volunteers noticed his automobile parked at Khok Kong village in tambon Sam Phrao of Muang district next to the stream, according to deputy tourist inspector Pol Capt Pongpat Kerkpiboonchai.
About 5 kilometers from the location where his car was parked, on the islet, he was discovered at 11 p.m.
Rescuers had to pass through a thick bamboo forest full of pythons and other hazardous snakes in order to reach the islet, which was challenging, according to the officer.
Mr. Martin claimed to have been a resident of this province in the northeast for six years without a family. On Saturday, he paddled the kayak along the stream before it sank, since he enjoyed doing adventurous trips.
He was fortunate to have a phone with him. According to local media, he then requested police assistance.
READ MORE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udon_Thani
