Diver drowns off Big Wave Bay

Water sport accidents killed two men who went snorkeling in Sai Kung waters in the past week.

The latest victim was a 36-year-old called Chan, who drowned at Big Wave Bay, Sai Kung, yesterday.

Searchers found the body of another diver who went snorkeling at Hoi Ha in the same district last Friday.

The two accidents brought the number of drownings to three during the four-day holiday.

Chan, an aircraft maintenance personnel, was airlifted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital after a sea crewman found him still in the water and tossed by waves.

Chan was certified dead in hospital. His friend, Wong, 44, who went snorkeling with him, was taken conscious to Tseung Kwan O Hospital.

The two were snorkeling with four friends about 2,000 meters from shore before the tragedy happened.

It is learned that Chan held an Advanced Open Water Diver certificate -- a recreational scuba diving certification provided by diver training agencies.

The body of 33-year-old Wong who went snorkeling at Hoi Ha in Sai Kung on Friday was recovered yesterday.

Wong was eventually found off Chuen Lo Kok Tsui, a headland at Hoi Ha.

Earlier, a joint search operation had been carried out by the police, the Fire Services Department, the Marine Department and the Government Flying Service in the past two days.

Wong was snorkeling 300 meters from the waters off Hoi Ha with his friends before they lost contact with him.

On September 30, the corpse of a 37-year-old man surnamed Tam was recovered 100 meters off Center Island in Tolo Channel after a two-day recovery operation.

Tam was snorkeling with his friends at night off Center Island with his friends two days earlier.