What was supposed to be a lavish family getaway in Phuket rapidly devolved into a search and rescue operation when Dane Johnson Endler, a 28-year-old American entrepreneur, disappeared from the familys private yacht, the De Mareft. The early-morning episode, which occurred on June 8, has left officials scouring the Andaman Sea for any trace of him.
All on Board Seemed Ordinary
Endler had been cruising near Cape Yamu in Phukets Thalang district, spending lazy days with relatives and six hired crew. Laughter, sun, and easy sailing filled the week-until one staff member went to call him for breakfast and discovered the cabin was deserted.
Cameras Capture a Chilling Exit
Alarm spread through the boat, and after a hasty search the family turned to the vessels security footage. What the screens revealed was unsettling. Between 2 and 3 a.m. Endler climbed out his window, walked to the stern, and boarded the small rubber dinghy. He fell into the water, clambered back aboard, jumped once more-and that second leap appears to have claimed him.
Just an Empty Alcohol Bottle Left Behind
Only an empty whiskey bottle now sits on the cabin table. The yachts captain, who normally bolts every door after dusk, says Endler slipped through a window and ghosted past routine safety checks.
Search Still Underway
Since his disappearance, Royal Thai Police, sea wardens, and Region 3 rescue teams have swept water and shore looking for clues. U.S. officials, embassy staff included, watch closely and swap leads with local crews.
No Answers Yet
Officers have not said whether Endler was nervous, drinking hard, or whether they fear something worse, yet the mystery has rattled Phuket residents and holidaymakers. Security camera clips showing his odd last hours fuel online chatter and wild theories.
A Vacation That Took a Tragic Turn
What began as a lavish family break now reads like the opening chapter of a rescue drama. So far, winds, swells, and search boats have delivered nothing-visible or audible-to hint at where he might be.