Incredible Rescue! This Dad’s Quick Thinking Keeps His Son Afloat Just in Time!

A tragic boating accident off the coast of Bodega Bay has left a family in mourning, with only a 13-year-old boy surviving the ordeal. The boy, Juladi “Jude” Khammoungkhoune, was one of six family members on a crabbing trip last week when powerful waves capsized their boat, taking the lives of his father, uncle, and other family members. Reflecting on the incident, Jude described the weather as “very cold and windy,” as he and his family ventured out to celebrate the start of crab season in northern California.

In an interview with Fox’s KTVU, Jude shared how the family’s outing turned deadly as the winds picked up, churning the water and creating waves that were too much for the boat to handle. “The boat couldn’t handle it because the waves were pretty massive. They were really massive,” he recalled. One by one, the family was thrown into the icy waters as the boat overturned.

According to Jude, family members tried to put on life jackets and cling to the boat’s remains. As it began to sink, his father, Prasong Khammoungkhoune, made a split-second decision to save his son. He directed Jude to climb into a cooler they had on board, a move that ultimately saved the boy’s life. Jude remembers his father holding onto the cooler until he could no longer fight the water’s force. “I was crying and yelling out for my dad, so I could hear him say something again,” Jude shared, describing his grief and fear as he watched his father disappear beneath the waves.

Drifting in the cooler, Jude endured a harrowing 13 hours alone at sea. “I just had to hang on really tightly and let the waves get inside the cooler and push me to the shore,” he said. He relied on his life jacket to stay afloat when exhaustion hit and fought the numbing cold until he could finally see land. When he reached shore, Jude managed to hike to a nearby campsite, where he found help and someone to call 911.

While Jude’s survival is a source of relief, the family is devastated by the loss of the others who didn’t make it. “It’s pretty sad without him,” Jude said, speaking of his father, whose death has left a deep void. So far, search teams have recovered one of Jude’s cousins, but the family continues to hope for closure.

In memory of their loved ones, the Khammoungkhoune family is planning a vigil on November 16 at West Side Regional Park in Bodega Bay. “We will definitely be there to say our goodbye and just maybe find some closure for us,” shared Shanice Khammoungkhoune, Prasong’s sister.

Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Prasong’s wife and their three young children. The fundraiser has received an outpouring of community support, with donations reaching $39,293 toward a $50,000 goal as of Sunday. “He was a rock in our lives, raising us with love, laughter, and guidance,” the family’s message on the campaign reads.