Tugboat skipper’s body found near Rama VIII bridge after 3 days of missing

The body of a missing tugboat driver has been found on Saturday floating near the Rama VIII bridge in Bangkok, almost 80 kilometres from where his boat capsized in the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya on Sept 29.

The boatman, 60-year old Rattana Chumharuthai, told the police that he had alerted rescue workers after the finding of the body and then followed it as it was swept further downstream by the strong current in the Chao Phraya, until it approached Siriraj hospital’s pier, where waiting rescue workers used a rope to secure the body.

Relatives confirmed that the body was that of Somchai Tharnkul, driver of the sunken boat. The body was taken to the Siriraj pier for police and a medical team to examine.

While doctors were examining the body, Juthathip Karnkasikhawithee, the boat driver’s eldest daughter, burst into tears upon seeing the tiger tattoo in the middle of his chest and the watch on his wrist. She had bought the watch as a birthday gift for her father.

Somchai’s wife, Naruemol Tharnkul, 51, is still missing and relatives are praying that they will hear news of her fate soon.

The couple were reported missing when their barge tug sank in the Chao Phraya River opposite Wat Phanan Choeng Voraviharn in Ayutthaya province late Wednesday morning.

The boat was pulling five cargo barges to a pier in Nakhon Luang district of the central province.

It sank in the strong current at the confluence of the rain-swollen Chao Phraya and Pasak rivers about 11.15am, the Ayutthaya Ruamjai Association rescue team reported on its Facebook page.

Agencies