The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, when a small local fishing boat overturned near the Tha Sak Pier in Moo 4, Pa Khlok. Authorities were alerted to the incident at around 6:30pm by the village headman of Moo 4.
According to initial reports from Thalang Police, the fishing boat was carrying two men when it capsized due to rough seas and heavy rain. One of the men was rescued by a passing boat, but the other, later identified as Pornchai Pandam, 46, disappeared beneath the waves.
Rescue teams from Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation and the Thalang Police were immediately dispatched to search the area.
Mr Pornchai’s body was discovered among mangroves near the headland of the Phuket Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Center in Baan Para at around 11:15am yesterday.
Investigating officers and a forensic physician confirmed that there were no signs of foul play or struggle on the body. The family of the deceased accepted the cause of death as an accident and has taken custody of the body to proceed with religious rites, police said.
The incident is being handled by Thalang Police, with Pol Lt Col Anukul Nuket overseeing the investigation and Pol Capt Thanom Thongpaen conducting the case inquiry.
The Phuket Marine Office has reminded local fishermen to exercise extreme caution when venturing out to sea during periods of strong winds and heavy rain.