As floodwaters continued to rise across Hatyai, a bizarre incident unfolded when a Malaysian tourist trapped in a hotel refused to be evacuated,because it wasn’t “check-out time” yet.
The incident was shared by Malaysian road-trip enthusiast Alez Ander, who has been receiving numerous SOS messages from stranded Malaysians following days of heavy rain in southern Thailand.
Alez shared that he is not part of any rescue operation, but simply helping to relay the victims’ locations to local rescue teams when they reach out to him for help.
Rescue boat rushed to hotel after SOS call
According to Alez, several Malaysians reached out for help after being trapped by the worsening flood.
Worried for their safety, he tapped into his local network and successfully arranged for a rescue team to dispatch a boat to one of the affected hotels.
Battling against strong currents, the rescue boat finally arrived at the hotel entrance—only for rescuers to be met with a completely unexpected response.
“I can’t leave… My check-out is tomorrow.”
Just as the rescue team prepared to escort the guests to safety, one of the stranded Malaysians calmly told them:
I’m only checking out tomorrow. I can’t leave now.”
The rescuers were left speechless.
Alez said this was the first time the rescue crew encountered someone refusing to be saved because check-out time hadn’t arrived.
The team could only stare in disbelief as the flood victim insisted on staying in the room despite the rising water levels.
Rescuers left helpless, forced to abandon mission
With the individual firmly refusing to board the rescue boat, Alez said he had no choice but to instruct the team to withdraw and redirect their efforts to others who genuinely needed help.
He said the incident perfectly demonstrated the saying, “It takes all kinds of people to make the world.”
Even in a serious flood, they didn’t want to leave the hotel for a safer place,” he wrote, expressing disbelief at the person’s priorities amid a dangerous situation.
Rescuers have been working round the clock
Alez also praised the dedication and exhaustion of the frontline rescuers, sharing a conversation he had with a Hatyai rescuer who had worked for more than 40 hours without sleep.
I chatted with a Hatyai rescuer until 5am,” he said. “She told me she hasn’t slept for over 40 hours. I told her: You’ve already done your best. You are a hero.”
He added that he is not a rescuer himself, and the only thing he can do is help pass on information from stranded Malaysians to the rescue teams as quickly as possible.
Even though the rain has stopped, the water level is still rising because floodwater is flowing down from the mountains,” he said, hoping everyone affected can pull through this difficult time safely.
