Banker dies after catamaran capsizes in rough waters off Hong Kong’s Beaufort Island
- The man who died, a 52-year-old French national, was trapped under the boat for about 45 minutes before rescuers arrived
- A strong monsoon signal was known to be in effect at the time the boat overturned in the waters off Beaufort Island
Hong Kong marine police pulled two men from the sea on Thursday – one of whom, a banker, died later in hospital – after their five-metre catamaran capsized off Beaufort Island while a strong monsoon signal from the city’s weather service was in effect.
The man who died was a 52-year-old French national who set sail with his 57-year-old friend – a Hongkonger who owned the boat – from Stanley prior to the accident.
“When they were south of the island, the boat was overturned by strong winds,” a police source said. “The younger man was believed to have been entangled by rope and trapped under water.”
Emergency personnel came after the older man managed to swim to the surface and call police at about 1.45pm, telling them his vessel had overturned off the island, also known as Lo Chau, and that his friend was trapped underneath.
A police source said members of the Fire Services Department, Marine Department and Government Flying Service joined marine officers in helping with a search and rescue operation.
The pair were located just before 2.30pm.
“The man [trapped under the boat] was unconscious while being pulled out of the water,” a police spokeswoman said.
The two men were ferried to Blake Pier in Stanley, then taken to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan. Police confirmed the unconscious man died there just before 4pm.