Local boats ignore teens and leave them to drown in Chao Phraya River

Two boys drowned yesterday in the Chao Phraya River after two local boats refused to assist them.

Bang Kho Laem district authorities discovered the bodies of Raya Puangsatorn, 13, and Sarin Sae-kwong, 20, who drowned near the Pasi Pier in Khlong Toey district yesterday afternoon.

According to their friend, 16-year-old Pongsatorn Pongprayoon, the three boys met by the river to swim and get relief from the heat.

Raya jumped in the river first, but as he swam, he could not keep up with the rapid water.

The two other boys dived into the river to help their friend, but all of them found it difficult to survive on their own, according to Sanook.

Two local boats passed by as the boys were drowning, and Pongsatorn, the only survivor, said he called for help, only to be ignored.

Just after the boats had passed, Raya and Sarin drowned as Pongsatorn swam back to the shore, unable to help his friends.

The whole accident was filmed and released online. The video is heavily criticized online as netizens condemned the local boat operators, and worse, the person who sat there filming them die and did nothing.

The heartbreaking and infuriating footage can be seen here.



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