Missing 74 year old Brit found safe
A 74-year old British tourist who was reported by his friend to have gone missing for two days after he went out to sea off Chumphon coast in a canoe has been found safe and sound on an uninhabited island in the Gulf.
Watcharin Suwapit, an official of Saphli tambon administration organization in Pathiu district, said Wednesday (Feb 14) that he received a request for help from Pol Lt-Col Sathien Chaisawat, an inspector of Chumphon marine police station, to locate a British tourist, 74-year old Mikel Smith.
Mr Smith’s friend, 63-year old Colin, lodged a complaint with the police, to look former who rented a canoe to explore the islands in the Gulf off Thung Wua Laen Bay two days ago and has not been seen ever since.
Mr Watcharin, who is the chief of maritime rescue unit, then organized a team of divers and volunteers to get on board of a speed boat to make a search in the sea off Pathiu district.
About an hour later, the search team found a man camping out on Chorakae island, a small uninhabited island about 7 miles from the coast.
The man turned out to be Mr Smith, the missing tourist, and the rescue team asked him to return to the mainland because his friend was worried with him. However, the Briton asked to spend another night on the island and promised to return the next morning.
The rescue team promised to return the next morning to accompany him to return to the coast.
Mr Watcharin said later that he had asked fishermen fishing near Chorakae island to help look after the Briton.
Source: PBS
