Home World British tourist missing after falling into reservoir in Thailand while kayaking: Scuba divers search 160ft deep waters after friend raises alarm

British tourist missing after falling into reservoir in Thailand while kayaking: Scuba divers search 160ft deep waters after friend raises alarm

by Alexander
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British tourist Shanghaman Gowribalan, 24, reportedly fell into the deepest part of the reservoir, about 500 meters from Kraisorn Raft House.
  • Shanghaman Gowribalan, 24, was kayaking with a friend at Rajjaprabha Dam.

A British tourist is missing in Thailand after falling into a reservoir during a kayaking trip, and divers are still searching the 160ft-deep waters after his friend raised the alarm yesterday.

Shanghaman Gowribalan, 24, was kayaking with his friend at the Rajjaprabha Dam in Surat Thani province around 9am on Sunday afternoon, February 11.

The Briton reportedly fell into the deepest part of the reservoir, about 500 meters from Kraisorn Raft House, and was unable to swim to safety.

His frantic friend, also from the UK, paddled back to shore and called the park authorities for help.

Police and rescue teams are using sonar to search for Gowribalan, and had still not found him as of Monday afternoon, about 24 hours after he first went missing.

British tourist Shanghaman Gowribalan, 24 years old

British tourist Shanghaman Gowribalan, 24, reportedly fell into the deepest part of the reservoir, about 500 meters from Kraisorn Raft House.

Police and rescue teams are using sonar to search underwater and had still not found him as of Monday afternoon.

Police and rescue teams are using sonar to search underwater and had still not found him as of Monday afternoon.

A friend of Shanghaman Gowribalan with Thai police as a search operation is underway

A friend of Shanghaman Gowribalan with Thai police as a search operation is underway

Worapote Lomlim, director of the local park, said: “Initial investigations suggest that the two tourists may have violated park regulations.

‘To take out a kayak to paddle, you must first register to receive a paddle and life jacket from staff.

‘No record found. We believe that the two tourists left early in the morning without wearing life jackets.

“Therefore, the head of Khao Sok National Park will investigate the facts.”

Worapote added that the area where the man had fallen was up to 50 meters deep and the water was “very cold”.

Mr Gowribalan's friends with Thai police at Rajjaprabha Dam reservoir

Mr Gowribalan’s friends with Thai police at Rajjaprabha Dam reservoir

Rescuers search for British tourist who fell into the water while kayaking in a reservoir in Thailand

Rescuers search for British tourist who fell into the water while kayaking in a reservoir in Thailand

Divers were deployed to search the waters, but the operation was temporarily suspended for safety reasons due to the depth of the dam.

Divers were deployed to search the waters, but the operation was temporarily suspended for safety reasons due to the depth of the dam.

Divers were deployed to search the waters, but the operation was temporarily suspended for safety reasons due to the depth of the dam, cold temperature and turbidity. The search and rescue resumed today, February 12.

Boonruang Longlaluad, head of the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office, said the provincial governor has ordered experts from neighboring teams to assist in the search.

Today, more divers from the island of Koh Tao and the province of Chonburi, in the east of the country, have arrived at the site.

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