Canoeists rescued after high winds capsize boats at Pak Sha Chau UPDATE: One dead

Pak Sha Chau

UPDATE: Sadly the 24-year-old woman sent to hospital died later that night.

Emergency services received at least eight reports of boats capsizing during strong winds yesterday afternoon (18/9) within a span of 30 minutes from around 4:00 pm yesterday. Among them, canoes were suspected of overturning causing many people to fall into the sea off Pak Sha Chau, Sai Kung,

The Observatory issued a special weather alert in the afternoon at 2:45 pm, with strong gusts and rain expected to hit Hong Kong. The alert told those outdoors to seek shelter in a safe place as soon as possible. At 4:05 pm, strong gusts of over 70 km/h were recorded in Sai Kung. Police received a number of calls for help from persons engaged in water sports, including wake boarding and canoeing. Gusts of over 110 km/h were recorded at Tai O around 7:25 pm. The warning was lifted at 8:45 pm.

Nine people, including children, paddling four canoes out to sea near Pak Sha Chau, Sai Kung had difficulties when their boats overturned and they fell into the sea around 4:15 pm. Two of them were in a coma when they were rescued, and one of them was sent to the Marine Police Base and then transferred to Tseung Kwan O Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

Pak Sha Chau (White Sand Island) is a small island close to Sai Kung town very popular for water sports.

Facebook Comments

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply