Abdulrahman Mahdi M. Al-Amri and his wife, Atheer Saeed A. Al-Amri, went missing at 6:30 pm while on a jet ski in Pattaya, Thailand, prompting a search by local authorities.
The couple’s jet ski capsized after its engine failed and ran out of fuel. Abdulrahman decided to swim to shore for help, using beach lights as a guide. After swimming for five hours, he was rescued in an exhausted state.
Rescuers continued searching for Atheer, finally finding her at 2 am. She had a minor leg injury but was otherwise safe.
The couple reunited and later returned to Saudi Arabia after paying a $1,400 damage fee to the jet ski operator.
Since normalizing ties in 2022, Saudi tourists visiting Thailand have significantly increased, reaching nearly 188,000 between January and October 2024.
