KHANH HOA, (Vietnam): A Vietnamese police officer has died after attempting to stop a group of suspected illegal sand miners on a river in the early hours of Saturday (March 21), authorities said.
Captain Nguyen Xuan Hai went missing during an overnight operation on the Cai River in Dien Lam Commune, Khanh Hoa Province.
His body was recovered later that morning after hours of searching.
Hai and a colleague had been conducting surveillance along the river when they spotted a raft moored near the bank that appeared to be engaged in illegal sand mining, according to initial reports.
When the group realised they had been detected, they steered the vessel towards the middle of the river, apparently attempting to flee.
Hai entered the water in an effort to intercept the raft. However, as he tried to hold onto it in strong currents and cold conditions, he was swept away and disappeared.
Search and rescue teams were deployed shortly afterwards, combing the area through the night and into the morning before recovering his body.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to identify and track down those involved. - VIetnam News/ANN
