Tragic Fishing Vessel Gas Incident Claims Lives in Chumphon Province

In a stormy twist of fate that left the heart of the fishing community in Chumphon province shattered, a tragic incident unfolded on the evening of June 28, 2025. As the sun dipped below the horizon, turning the sky a deep shade of indigo, tragedy struck aboard a fishing vessel, painting the scene with heart-rending hues of grief.

This was not a tale of the sea surrendering its bounty to the hardy fishermen, but one of nature’s cruel game, where three brave souls met their untimely demise. It was just past 8:30 p.m. when the tranquility of the vessel was shattered; the ominous specter of toxic gas emerged from the depths of the fish storage compartment. In a harrowing attempt to rescue a colleague, the predicament spiraled into a succession of ill-fated attempts that resulted in even more casualties.

It was the emergency services at Rak Sinlatham Pak Nam Chumphon Foundation that first received the urgent call of distress. As swift as the currents off the Chumphon coast, they rushed to Pak Nam Chumphon Hospital. Yet, the ominous tide had already claimed its victims. Sadly, three were pronounced dead upon arrival, their vibrant spirits extinguished despite all efforts. The deceased, revered as they were in the fishing circles, left behind not just empty nets but hearts laden with sorrow. They were lovingly identified as Noi, aged 45, Weerayut, 37, and Pramote, 33. Their remains were respectfully placed in the multipurpose hall of the Rak Sinlatham Pak Nam Chumphon Foundation, waited upon by grieving relatives, the air suffused with silent grief.

Meanwhile, Arthit, aged 28, clung tenaciously to life. Emergency responders, with nerves and skills akin to seasoned sea captains, worked tirelessly, performing CPR to bring him back from the brink. Yet, hope flickered uncertainly with every breath, as his condition remained critical under vigilant medical care.

The heart-wrenching account of this tragic voyage was recounted by Amarit, the 46-year-old fellow crew member, voice tinged with the exhaustion that only seafarers know. The ill-fated crew had commenced their journey from Prachuap Khiri Khan province on June 26, united by ambition and camaraderie. Purposefully they sailed, their nets deftly gathering approximately 300 kilograms of mackerel and other glinting fish. As tradition dictated, they packed their bounty into seven large barrels, each brimming with icy waters to preserve nature’s gifts until their return. But fate had woven a different ending to their tale.

Upon docking at Pak Nam Chumphon, it was during the routine task of unloading that the sinister drama unfolded. As the final compartment was accessed, the first crew member succumbed to an unseen, lethal adversary. Courageously, yet fatefully, the second and third colleagues followed into the belly of the ship, only to fall prey to the same toxic grasp. It took until the fifth crew member realized the grave threat – noxious gas from decaying fish. Alert to the battleground that lay below, the crew strategically equipped themselves with a pump and protective masks, shrewdly retrieving their fallen comrades from the lethal depths.

Despite their gutsy rescue efforts, the time lost was irreparable. The stricken seamen were transported less than 300 meters to the hospital, but the cruel specter of fate claimed three souls, leaving an indelible mark of pain on a close-knit community.

As the investigation ensued, law enforcement officials from Pak Nam Chumphon Police Station meticulously gathered evidence, piecing together the fragments of the tragic puzzle. Statements were taken from the shaken but resilient hands that remained. The bodies underwent examination at Pak Nam Chumphon Hospital, the final chapter in a heart-wrenching tale yet to be closed. Amidst the crush of loss, relatives journeyed tearfully from Prachuap Khiri Khan, to honor the perished with ceremonies steeped in customary rites; their mournful passage echoing through the halls of memory.

This incident, stark in its reality, casts a long shadow on the tranquil tapestry of Chumphon’s fishing community, leaving behind stories of gallantry and communal remembrance — a somber reminder of the unseen perils the ocean harbors.