Hong Kong tourist drowns while helping to save swimmer in Red Sea resort

A Hong Kong man has drowned after helping to save a swimmer’s life off the popular Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Hurghada.

The 40-year-old man, surnamed Choy, had been enjoying a trip with his wife and other travellers on a small island off Hurghada when the incident occurred at around 11am on Tuesday, local agency Wing On Travel announced on Friday.

“The weather was fine and the water was calm. Then a drowning swimmer shouted for help and that male tour member, as well as other local staff, rushed to join the rescue efforts,” a company spokeswoman said.

But after helping to save the struggling swimmer’s life, Choy lost his own, she said.

“The male tour member was found to be unconscious near the shore as he tried to swim back to the beach.”

The weather was fine and the water was calm. Then a drowning swimmer shouted for help and that male tour member, as well as other local staff, rushed to join the rescue efforts

Wing On Travel spokeswoman

A rescue team resuscitated Choy and he was sent back to the downtown area by speedboat for treatment. But he was later pronounced dead.

Wing On Travel expressed deep condolences to Choy’s family and said it would help with travel insurance claims.

“[Our company] helped the family of the deceased to travel there to handle follow-up action,” the company said. “The group’s tour escort will also stay to provide help.”

The Immigration Department said it had asked for more information through the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and China’s embassy in Cairo.

The department has contacted Choy’s family and provided advice and help and will follow up on the case.

Hurghada, one of Egypt’s main tourist spots on the Red Sea, is a city that stretches for about 40km (25 miles) along the coast and is popular for scuba diving.

Choy and his wife were among a 24-strong tour group who left Hong Kong on February 26 for Egypt.

Wing On Travel said it had notified the Travel Industry Council and was also in close contact with the insurance company handling Choy’s case.

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