The Incident
An American tourist was discovered trapped in a stormwater drain in Pattaya, Thailand, on Tuesday night. A passerby heard his cries for help and alerted the Sawang Boriboon emergency center, who responded to the scene near Soi Thepprasit 8 in Moo 11 of tambon Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district around 7:30 pm.
Upon arrival, rescuers were led to a drain on the side of the road, where they spotted a man approximately 1.50 meters below the surface, stuck in a 60-centimeter sewer pipe. After removing the metal grid covering the hole, the team managed to lift the trapped tourist to safety.
The Discovery
Chalee Boonsri, a 26-year-old security guard, reported hearing a man yelling for help while he was buying a soft drink from a nearby shop. Initially, he couldn’t locate the source of the sound. His curiosity led him to peer through the grill over the drain, where he saw the man trapped in the murky water below.
The Tourist’s Identity and Condition
Pattaya and tourist police arrived at the scene to find the trapped man was Jonathan Ioane Vaimaona, a 36-year-old American. He had arrived in Thailand with his girlfriend on May 12 and had been staying at a condominium on Thap Phraya road, approximately two kilometers from the incident site.
Vaimaona appeared exhausted and covered in sludge, wearing only a pair of pants. When questioned about how he ended up in the sewer pipe, his response was unclear and confusing.
Unanswered Questions
The circumstances surrounding Vaimaona’s entrapment in the stormwater drain remain uncertain. Authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to his ordeal and ensure the tourist’s well-being.
