13-1-2025 (BANGKOK) A Belgian kiteboarding enthusiast met a tragic end on Sunday when severe weather conditions drove him into rocky outcrops at a coastal forest park near Hua Hin, Thailand’s popular resort destination.
The victim, identified only as Brendan, 55, lost his life whilst kiteboarding at Thao Kosa Forest Park in Pran Buri when powerful gusts of wind pushed him towards a treacherous rocky section of the coastline.
Emergency services deployed a drone to locate the victim amidst challenging weather conditions, with both high winds and turbulent seas hampering initial search efforts. The search team eventually spotted his body wedged between rocks at Khao Kalok within the park’s boundaries.
rescue crews were forced to wait for the tide to recede before launching their recovery operation. Once conditions permitted, a team aboard a rubber dinghy navigated through choppy waters and sharp rocks to retrieve the deceased.
The recovery scene turned especially poignant as the victim’s mother and Thai wife waited anxiously on the shoreline. Sources close to the family revealed that his mother had arrived in Thailand merely 48 hours prior to the incident for what was meant to be a family visit.
According to rescue coordinator Polrop Meesaming, examination of the body indicated that the cause of death appeared to be head trauma sustained when the victim was thrown against the rocks by powerful waves.
