Second swimmer dies after being pulled from water at Hong Kong cross-harbour race
59-year-old woman, who was participating in the leisure category, had been in critical condition in hospital after being rescued
This year’s annual cross-harbour swim was further tainted after another participant, who had been in critical condition after being rescued from the water, died in hospital.
This was the second death to mar the contest, which took place on Sunday and saw about 3,000 swimmers navigating 1.5km from Sam Ka Tsuen public pier at Lei Yue Mun to Quarry Bay Park on the other side of Victoria Harbour.
The 59-year-old woman, who was participating in the leisure category, was found unconscious in the water. She was pulled up by lifeguards at about 9.30am, 15 minutes before a 46-year-old male swimmer in the same category was pulled unconscious from the water near the finish line at Quarry Bay Park.
Both were sent to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, where the man died.
The woman was admitted to the intensive care unit, where she remained in a critical condition.
She died at 11.06pm on Monday.