A 13-year-old boy, Juladi “Jude” Khammoungkhoune, who was the sole survivor of a boating accident at Bodega Bay, recently reflected on the horrific incident and recalled how his father sacrificed his life to keep his son alive.
On November 2, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office reported that a 21-foot white Bayliner crab boat carrying three adults and three children, including teenager Juladi "Jude" Khammoungkhoune and his father, Prasong, was overdue after leaving the coast of Bodega Bay.
The boat capsized, leaving Jude and his family struggling to stay afloat, Jude shared in a CBS Bay Area interview on Saturday, November 15.
Father sacrificed his own life to save his son in the Bodega Bay accident
On November 2, Jude joined his father, Prasong, his uncle, two young cousins, and an adult family friend on a crabbing trip, boarding a 21-foot white Bayliner boat when it was violently overturned. The group was reported missing around 10:20 p.m. after they failed to return to shore in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco.
"It was already filled up on one side, and it was already too late before I noticed,"
Jude told in an interview with CBS Bay Area, recalling the moment they realized their vessel was rapidly taking on water and about to capsize in rough seas.
"As soon as we were on our last equipment, we decided to just floor the boat," Jude added. "It was already kind of too late, and the water was already forming inside. So, we just started flooring it a little bit until the equipment snapped. As soon as we kind of went a little bit faster, the boat just stopped working, and we just went overboard with our life jackets on."
Some jumped into the ocean, while others tried to hold on to the boat. However, Jude's father's quick decision was able to save him. His father, Prasong, quickly tucked Jude inside a cooler and held on to the cooler from outside to stay afloat. However, soon he let go of the cooler in hopes that his son, Jude, would reach shore faster.
"After a little while, he just let go," Jude recalled his father's sacrifice.
Jude shared with CBS that he had no idea of how long the ordeal lasted or where he was.
"I just thought about my family," he said. "I just decided to be smart about it and fall asleep and see what I got and just use it to get out of here."
Shanice, Prasong's older sister, told CBS it was heartbreaking to hear about her brother's decision to try and save his son.
"That broke my heart," she said. "I mean to hear that he probably had to make a choice."
The sheriff's office identified Jude's brother, 17-year-old Johnny Phommathep II, who was found dead after the incident. The rest of the family members haven't been found yet. The missing passengers are presumed dead.
The family held a vigil on the shores of Bodega Bay, where the boat departed over two weeks ago, to honor the passengers who lost their lives and those still missing.
"The monks chanting was more of a prayer that he would hear and that his soul would rest in peace. That he would find his way back to Bodega Bay," Shanice told ABC7 News."If his soul is trapped here, wandering in the ocean somewhere, in my mind and in my heart, I want him to find some closure," Shanice added. "That he would find some peace and comfort, so he can go on to the next journey of his life.”
During the ceremony, Jude shared the prayer he made for his father:
"That I will be missing him. And his spirit lives in my body.”
Prasong’s family members started a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, which raised over $68,000
Two of Jude’s cousins set up a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe in Prasong’s memory to help support his grieving family, including Jude’s mother and his two younger siblings.
The organizer, Kyle Souvanhnaboupha, identified Prasong as his uncle and wrote,
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"I’m here with my brother Thavi, and together, we’re reaching out with heavy hearts for our family. Our beloved uncle, Prasong (Song), who was more of a father to us than an uncle, was one of the missing boaters lost to the ocean off the coast of Sonoma near Bodega Bay. He was a rock in our lives, raising us with love, laughter, and guidance. Now, we’re suddenly standing in his place, caring for his wife—our aunt—and his three young children."
According to Kyle's post, Prasong shared three young children with his wife and was a devoted husband. The family deeply mourns the loss of its "anchor." So far, the campaign has raised $68,922, surpassing its $50,000 target.
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