Fisherman rescues exhausted monkey from sea off Thailand
A monkey struggling in open water off Phuket was helped aboard a fishing boat with a life jacket and taken back to shore, reports said.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
A monkey found struggling in open water off Phuket, Thailand, got an unlikely sea rescue after a fisherman spotted the animal swimming far from shore, according to UPI.
The rescue happened off Koh Maphrao, also known as Coconut Island, Khaosod English reported. The fisherman was out on the water when he saw the monkey and helped it reach his boat.
A Facebook video posted by Phuket Times shows the fisherman sending a life jacket toward the animal in the water. The monkey used it to get close enough to the vessel, according to UPI’s description of the footage.
Once the animal reached the boat, the video shows the fisherman giving it water from a bottle. UPI reported that the monkey had appeared tired while swimming before it was brought aboard.
The monkey then climbed onto the boat and was taken back to land, UPI reported.
How far had the monkey swum?
The fisherman suggested the animal may have come from Koh Siray, Khaosod English reported. That island is more than 3 miles from the area where the rescue took place, according to UPI.
No further details were reported about how the monkey ended up in the water or what happened after it was returned to shore.
The footage drew attention because of the unusual sight of a monkey alone at sea, using a life jacket as a bridge back to safety. The video also shows the rescuer keeping the animal close to the boat before offering water.
UPI reported the story on July 20 in its Odd News section, citing the rescue video and local reporting from Khaosod English.
This story draws on original reporting from UPI.