A Sattahip Naval Base employee working part-time as a fishing tour deckhand drowned trying to free a rope tangled around the boat’s propeller.
Suthisak Nundee, 46, a base Industrial Department worker, was working for extra cash on weekends manning the Jaruayporn, a fishing tour boat for Thai tourists. On Dec. 5, the boat stalled about an hour from Samae San Pier when a rope became tangled around the propeller.
Navy divers search for the body of Sattahip Naval Base employee Suthisak Nundee.
Captain Samroeng Yenkrasae said Suthisak – said to be a strong swimmer – volunteered to free the rope and dove with just a mask under the boat to fix it. He surfaced three times, saying the last time the rope was nearly loose. He submerged again, but did not return.
Samroeng called for help and a Navy rescue dive team searched the area around Koh Chuang West. After an hour, divers found the deckhand’s body about 30 meters below the surface. The body was taken to Sattahip Naval base before it was transferred to Suthisak’s family.
