Missing Brit ‘believed to be trapped inside’ sunken vessel in Thailand

Rescue groups consider lacking British artist Millie Young is trapped contained in the vessel she was on when it capsized off the coast of Thailand final week.

A helicopter and dozens of ships have spent days following ocean currents across the Surin Islands the place the ship sank, however haven’t discovered something to assist in their seek for Ms Young, who disappeared on December 23.

The ship’s prepare dinner Samniang Chaichana, 67, can be thought to have been trapped on board when the ship sank to a depth of 180ft whereas Ms Young was having fun with a dream journey with associates. 

Pichet Songtan, spokesman for Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC), stated: ‘The rescue committee is working to seek out the sunken ship as shortly as doable. We consider that the lacking persons are trapped inside.’

The Reggae Queen left Thap Lamu Pier on the mainland within the afternoon of December 22, carrying 13 vacationers and 5 crew members.

Songtan defined how the ship was compelled to cease en route as ‘the waves have been so robust’. 

Waves ‘greater than three metres excessive’ slapped towards the facet of the ship, with an excessive amount of being taken on for the waste water pump to take away. Crew woke the passengers and organized life rafts for evacuation earlier than the ship sank.

On Christmas Day, it was reported an inflatable life raft had been discovered, 20 nautical miles away from the place the ship went down.

Navy chiefs stated they may now use sonar to seek out the wreckage of the Reggae Queen, a big ship that took vacationers on in a single day diving journeys across the idyllic tropical islands, some 37 miles from the mainland in Phang Nga province.

Songtan stated {that a} ‘side-scan sonar’ had been requested from the navy’s battle fleet to seek out the co-ordinates the place the ship sank.

‘The ship floated on the waves for greater than three hours till one other boat discovered it and rescued the group at round 9 am,’ Songtan stated – which means groups consider Ms Young was not efficiently evacuated together with her group.  

Rescuers later discovered an empty raft believed to be from the Reggae Queen.

Rear Admiral Pongmit Narongkul, the Chief of Staff of the third Naval Region, stated: ‘A navy patrol aircraft has been flying throughout the world to seek for the 2 victims together with navy boats.

‘An inflatable life raft was discovered 20 nautical miles from the place the ship sank however there was no one inside.

‘The flight path search space has been expanded to the western space of the Surin Islands, with a radius of 15 nautical miles from the forecast level.

‘The lacking individuals haven’t been discovered however the search is constant.’

It is known Ms Young had lived in Thailand since 2007, splitting her time between the gorgeous southeast Asian kingdom and the UK.

She had just lately met relations on the airport in Bangkok earlier than travelling on their vacation to the wonder spot within the south, the place clear water and various marine life are an enormous draw for snorkelling and diving journeys.

The group booked 5 locations on the Reggae Queen, departing on December 22. 

Officials stated a Mayday name was made shortly earlier than 9am on December 23 because the ship was battered by waves on method to the Surin Islands to the northwest of the mainland.

Footage confirmed the rescue of passengers and crew members, however solely 16 of the 18 on board are reported to have made it safely off the boat.

Rescue operations proceed northeast of Thailand as groups desperately seek for the lacking victims of the tragedy.

Navy chief Pichet Songtan stated: ‘The rescue committee consists of third Naval Area Command, Thai-MECC Region 3, and the Surin Islands National Park.

‘The mission plan consists of looking on the floor, on the seaside, and from plane, and requesting cooperation from close by vessels.

‘The lacking individuals are more likely to be caught contained in the ship. We consider that they have been unable to flee and have been pushed down by the water.

‘We are nonetheless ready for the proper latitude and longitude to be decided. When it’s, deep sea scuba divers are prepared to look additional.’

Supoj Rodruang Na Nongkhai, the governor of Phang Nga province, stated he had instructed all boats within the space to look out for the 2 lacking individuals within the Andaman Sea area.

He stated that rescue groups have been looking within the path of the ocean currents, that are believed to have carried the lacking pair in a northwest path.

The governor added: ‘The lacking individual is a British girl and a Thai member of the crew. We are placing all of our sources into discovering them.’ 

Sunee Panpeng, 43, the daughter of the lacking prepare dinner, stated her mom had labored on the journeys for round 4 years, and would have three days at sea earlier than returning to shore.

She added: ‘When I used to be informed that the ship had sunk, I used to be instantly fearful about my mom as a result of she can not swim.

‘We can solely pray that she shall be discovered. Now I’m ready for a miracle.’