Series of Water Accidents Along Southern and Eastern Coasts During Vacation Season... Four Dead in Geoje and Pohang

80s Haenyeo Suffers Cardiac Arrest in Pohang's Cheongha Sea
Man in His 70s Dies at Sagok Beach in Geoje

During the weekend, which marked the peak summer vacation season, a series of water-related accidents occurred along the southern and eastern coasts as well as at reservoirs, resulting in four fatalities.

At Haeundae Beach in Haeundae-gu, Busan, vacationers are cooling off from the heat. Photo is not related to the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the Korea Coast Guard and fire authorities on August 2, at around 8:07 a.m., a report was received stating that an 80-something female diver, or haenyeo, who had been diving to collect sea urchins near Cheongjin-ri, Cheongha-myeon, Buk-gu, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, had failed to resurface.

The Pohang Coast Guard rescue team, which was dispatched to the scene, found Ms. A in cardiac arrest about 20 minutes later at approximately 8:30 a.m. and transported her to a nearby hospital, but she was ultimately pronounced dead.

Earlier on the same day, during the early morning, friends who had gone night fishing were found dead in a reservoir in Pohang. At 1:47 a.m., fire authorities were dispatched to a reservoir in Gigye-myeon, Buk-gu, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, after receiving a report that friends who had gone fishing could not be reached. After conducting an underwater search for about an hour, they rescued two people, including a man in his 60s, but both were already deceased. Police have ruled out foul play or any criminal activity, and are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.

Fatalities also occurred at well-known beaches. At 12:19 p.m. on August 1, Mr. B, a man in his 70s, who was enjoying the water with his party at Sagok Beach in Sagok-myeon, Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, drowned. Although responded to and transported to the hospital by emergency medical services, he was declared dead.

The Changwon Coast Guard is working to determine the exact cause of the accident, taking into account that Mr. B was found in shallow water and witness statements indicating that he had preexisting health conditions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.