Rotarian drowns in boat accident

PATHUM THANI

Rotarian drowns in boat accident

WANWILAI WONGYALA

Pathum Thani _ The president of Pathum Thani Rotary Club drowned when the boat he was in capsized while delivering polio vaccine to communities along Rangsit canal in Thanyaburi district yesterday. Yongchai Surapanthanakorn, 46, managed to get his two-year-old daughter Nicha to safety but drowned when he swam back to help his wife Kanittha, 44, survivor Thagorn Sahasuntorn said.

Police said the accident was reported at about noon. Police found a 20-seat long-tail boat capsized in the middle of the 200-metre-wide canal.

Nine people were taken to hospital and one reported missing. A police diving team recovered Yongchai's body.

Supranee Ongsakul, 43, said the club had hired the boat to ferry 10 members and guests on a trip to provide oral polio vaccine to children in communities along the canal.

Mr Thaworn said the boat had gone only about 100m when the driver, identified only as Mr Chan, told passengers to move to the back. He said water was gushing into the front.

The driver tried to head to shore but the boat rapidly became waterlogged and sank in seconds, he said. Officials suspect the boat was overloaded and are searching for the driver.