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Magdalena Puczka studied at the Warsaw University of Technology and came to Hong Kong for a summer internship in late June. Photo: SCMP Pictures

PolyU intern from Poland drowns at Hong Kong beach during midnight swim

Magdalena Puczka, 21, was at camping event in area and stayed overnight with some students

A university student from Poland drowned at a Sai Kung beach in the early hours of Sunday after an overnight camping trip in the area.

Magdalena Puczka, 21, an intern at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, was swimming at Ham Tin Wan on the east coast at about 1.50am on Sunday when she started struggling in the water.

Police said Puczka was pulled out of the water unconscious by friends before paramedics arrived. She was airlifted by the Government Flying Service to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan, where she was confirmed dead at about 3am.

“Her friends jumped into the water immediately after seeing her drowning. They called police after she was pulled to the shore,” a police source said.

“We do not rule out that the girl consumed alcohol before the tragedy took place.”

Three exchange students, who accompanied Puczka to the hospital, appeared sorrowful when they heard the bad news.

Puczka studied at the Warsaw University of Technology in her home country and came to Hong Kong for a summer internship in late June.

On Sunday afternoon, hours before the incident, Puczka was at a camping event with 30 other interns. The group gathered at Choi Hung and headed to a campsite in Ham Tin Wan.

Puczka stayed at the beach overnight with some students and went for a swim shortly after midnight.

A PolyU spokesman confirmed that she had worked as an intern in the applied physics department. The school was contacting her family and would provide counselling to students in need.

Police added that there were no suspicious circumstances.

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