Family of Four Falls into Water on Jindo Coast; Mother and Son Dead

A family of four fell into the water in Jindo, resulting in the deaths of a mother in her 40s and her four-year-old son.

According to the Coast Guard and other authorities, at approximately 1:51 p.m. on September 12, three children who were playing in the water near the coast of Uisin-myeon, Jindo-gun, as well as their mother, identified as Ms. A, who attempted to rescue them, fell into the water.

A view of the coastal area in Uisin-myeon, Jindo-gun, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeollanam-do, where the accident occurred. Provided by the Fire Department Headquarters

Ms. A and her youngest son (aged 4) were rescued by civilian rescuers while in cardiac arrest and transferred to a hospital, but both were pronounced dead.

The eight-year-old son held onto a floating offshore structure and was rescued; it has been reported that he is being treated at a hospital for symptoms of hypothermia. The six-year-old daughter reportedly managed to get out of the water herself and sought help from people nearby.

Immediately after the accident was reported, the Coast Guard and other agencies dispatched 44 personnel to the scene at around 1:55 p.m. After reviewing nearby CCTV footage, the Coast Guard determined that Ms. A was watching her children play on the shoreline from the sandy beach. When the children drifted farther from the shore, she entered the water to rescue them. At the time, the children were not wearing either flotation tubes or life jackets.

The area where the accident occurred is a small beach not designated as an official swimming area, but it is known as a spot where tourists sometimes engage in water activities. Normally, the currents are strong and there is a significant tidal range. At the time of the accident, the tide had passed its peak at around 11:41 a.m. and was in the ebb tide phase, with the water receding.

The Coast Guard is investigating the possibility that the family was swept away by the ebb tide. They are analyzing CCTV and other evidence to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.

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