A relaxing island-hopping trip in Thailand turned into a distressing ordeal for numerous tourists when their ferry ride from Koh Tao to Koh Samui was hit by rough seas, resulting in their luggage being swept directly into the ocean. The chaotic incident, captured in a now-viral video, shows a trail of suitcases floating away in the open water.
Chaos on the High Seas
The trouble began midway through the journey when turbulent waves started crashing onto the ferry's upper deck. Passengers were horrified to see their own bags, which had been placed unsecured on the upper deck, being washed overboard by the force of the water. One passenger, Norman, described the frightening scene, recalling that "the front of the boat was properly submerged" at one point during the crossing.
The viral video, shared by the Instagram account Brut America, clearly shows a stream of suitcases adrift in the sea, highlighting the scale of the loss for the travellers onboard, many of whom were reportedly very distressed.
Desperate Recovery Efforts
In response to the chaos, the ferry crew made attempts to salvage the situation. They stopped the vessel to try and retrieve whatever luggage they could from the water, managing to haul some cases back on board. The recovery operation continued with the arrival of a speedboat, which was dispatched to collect the remaining floating luggage.
Despite these efforts, the aftermath was far from smooth for all passengers. The report from news.com.au highlighted that a passenger named Zamperelli had still not recovered her belongings. She faced a significant struggle to secure compensation, which involved "five hours of tears and broken English" before she finally received 50,000 baht (approximately AU$2,382).
Travel Advisory and Online Reactions
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of sea travel, especially during specific seasons. The islands off Thailand's eastern coast, including popular spots like Koh Tao and Koh Samui, are well known for turbulent seas during the May–October rainy season. Travellers are strongly advised to research conditions for each island individually before embarking on their journeys.
The shocking video quickly drew a wave of reactions online. While one user boldly claimed, "I would’ve jumped off the boat and got my luggage back," another offered a more philosophical perspective, commenting, "Stuff can be recovered and be bought again, lives cannot." A third user, familiar with the route, expressed relief at having experienced a calmer trip, writing, "Wow. I’ve been on this exact ferry route. Thankfully it was much calmer then. Yikes. Glad everyone is ok, sans some luggage I guess." Adding a touch of dark humour, a fourth user quipped, "On the bright side, the dolphins have a whole new wardrobe now."
