Lifeguards rescued a Thai mother and her son from strong currents at the Nai Harn Beach in Phuket, Thailand Sunday, but her American husband is still missing and presumed drowned.
It happened when strong waters pushed the family out to sea, including 49-year-old Siriarmorn Phetarwut and her son Boonpat, reported Thai PBS World.
The father who is also a U.S. Army veteran has been identified as James Everett du Bois, 49.
According to the Thai Newsroom, rescuers spent more than four hours looking for du Bois but called off the search due to darkness at around midnight.
Phetarwut told emergency workers she realized her husband who had been surf boarding not far from the beach was being pulled away further and could be heard shouting for help.
Yellow flags in the area warned beachgoers that swimmers should use caution due to potentially windy conditions and strong waves. Some including Mayor Arun Soros questioned why the red flag warning had not been issued when other nearby beaches had, reported Daily Mail.
The Department of Mineral Resources has since warned of possible flash floods and landslides today and tomorrow.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
We are supported through donations and such charitable organizations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All donations are tax deductible and can be made here.
