20-05-2025
Chinese tourist drowns while diving off Pulau Sipadan
Semporna police chief Sobri Zainol said the victim was part of a group of eight divers from various countries taking part in a resort-organised dive. (File pic)
PETALING JAYA : A 37-year-old Chinese tourist reportedly drowned while diving off Pulau Sipadan, Semporna, yesterday.
Semporna police chief Sobri Zainol said the man, who was part of a group of eight divers from various countries, was believed to have entered the water without the knowledge or supervision of his instructor.
At around 10.45am, a boatman noticed the victim in a panicked state. The man then submerged and disappeared underwater.
'One of the diving instructors conducted a search for the victim and found him unconscious at a depth of about 25m,' Harian Metro quoted Sobri as saying in a statement today.
He said CPR was performed on the victim after he was pulled from the water. The man reportedly gasped and vomited, but then lost consciousness again.
The victim was then taken to Semporna Hospital for further treatment before being referred to Tawau Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival at 6.45pm.
Sobri said the victim had joined the resort-organised dive session with his wife, who remained on the boat at the time of the incident.
'Police have opened an investigation paper and classified the case as sudden death,' he said, adding that the autopsy is scheduled for 2pm today at Tawau Hospital.
