A Hong Kong climbing expert has urged sightseers to be cautious when venturing by the sea after two tourists drowned in Shek O.
Chung Kin-man, a veteran mountaineer, told Ming Pao on Sunday that the rock formations by the sea on Shek O’s Tai Tau Island – where the incident occurred – often saw big waves due to boats going by. People had lost their footing and fallen into the sea in the past, he said.
Chung’s comments came after two mainland Chinese tourists drowned in the waters off Tai Tau Island on Sunday. Police said they had received a report just before 1 pm of suspected drownings about 20 metres from the shore.
According to a police statement, it was believed that the 57-year-old woman was taking photos when she was washed away by waves. Her two brothers jumped into the sea in an attempt to save her, with the younger brother, 55, drowning.
The woman and her younger brother were lifted from the sea unconscious and taken to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, where they were certified dead. The older brother, who suffered a foot injury, was taken to the same hospital for treatment.
Besides the older brother, who lives in Hong Kong, the two others had travelled from the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen to Hong Kong on Sunday for a day trip, local media reported. They were accompanied by three others, two of whom are the daughters of the 57-year-old woman who died.
Known for its rocky shores and wave-cut cliffs, Tai Tau Chau – or Urn Island – is a 20-minute walk from Shek O Village. It is also a popular spot for coasteering.
Chung, the climbing expert, said the cliffs on the island were easily accessible. Sightseers should evaluate safety conditions when venturing by the seaside and assess if they were wearing appropriate clothing, he added.
This is not the first time that fatal incidents have occurred on the island. In 2014, an Indonesian domestic worker was washed away by a wave and later certified dead. In 2005, a man also drowned after a wave swept him away while he was taking photos.
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