Surapong’s Pond Disappearance: The Mystery of Bang Nam Priao’s Missing Bird Hunter

In a poignant tale that has left a community in solemn anticipation, factory worker Surapong, known for his penchant for bird hunting, disappeared under mysterious circumstances while retrieving a shot bird. On a day intended for leisure from the usual grind, it seems that fate had other plans for the 35-year-old well-known in his circle for his adventurous spirit.

On the afternoon of June 29, a sense of unease descended on the Don Chimphli subdistrict’s otherwise tranquil landscape in Bang Nam Priao district, Chachoengsao province. Police Lieutenant Suthep Sukhpanich, taking on the urgent role of orchestrating a rescue, reported a drowning in a pond once used for soil excavation. This vast water body, spanning two rai, harbors depths plunging several dozen meters at its central point and running three meters deep along its fringes.

The pond is framed by a lush tapestry of lotus and cattail plants, creating a deceptively serene picture. Yet beneath this calm surface, it conceals the potential dangers that now trap a community in suspense. As rescue divers from the Chachoengsao unit, armed with three divers and specialized equipment, took the plunge to scour the waters, Surapong’s wife and family looked on in heartsick trepidation. A poignant scene unfolded as she was met with the haunting sight of her husband’s clothes iced on the pond’s bank, triggering a cascade of tears and despair.

Unyielding in their efforts, the determined rescue team battled through the entangling bounty of lotus and cattail roots, these natural barriers thwarting their mission to locate Surapong. While the dive continued along the three-meter-deep perimeter, a mix of hope and solemnity settled over the pond—the missing man’s family lighting incense in a traditional plea for spiritual assistance amid the unfolding tragedy.

Time was not on their side, as looming storm clouds threatened to sever daylight. The search endured for over four hours until the dive’s chilly depths compelled a pause at 9 PM. The pre-dawn air, brisk and biting, underscored the dangers the divers faced, prompting a tactical retreat with plans to resume the search the following day, June 30.

Adding to the tension of a day marked by desperate hopes and relentless searching, was the critical eyewitness account provided by 47-year-old Nanphet, a long-time friend and colleague of Surapong. Known for his simple joys and pursuit of hunting, Surapong, that fateful day, was rooted in his commonplace activity near the pond, aiming at birds poised upon a lotus leaf.

Nanphet speculated that after hitting a bird, Surapong bravely, if fatally, dove in to retrieve his prize. A quick swim turned perilous, possibly snagged by muscle cramps or ensnared within the dense undergrowth of lotus and cattails beneath the pond’s surface. Upon returning, when his friend didn’t surface, Nanphet’s cheerful greeting twisted into a call of concern, only to be answered by Surapong’s temporarily abandoned attire—boots, trousers, hat—mute witnesses to what transpired next.

The situation draws a wide gaze, as the beautiful but wild nature of the place, shared with friends and family alike, now bears solemn closeness with uncertainty. This serene pond holds a story that waits for unfolding, alongside the tears and whispered prayers that echo the hope of deliverance.

Onlookers and community members gather, united in their wish for Surapong’s safe return, contemplating the sometimes tumultuous relationship between nature and mankind. As rescue efforts vow to continue amidst today’s unfolding clouds, the heart can only hold its breath, offering silent wishes to a cherished member of the community who dared to chase the ordinary against an extraordinary backdrop.