Hong Kong vacationer drowns in Langkawi while trying to save his two children

A 50-year-old tourist from Hong Kong drowned off a Langkawi beach while trying to reach his children after they fell into the sea during a beach walk.

Officers from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency found the body of Cheung Ming-tak at 10.49am on Wednesday 700 metres from the beach where he was missing at Tanjung Rhu, The Star of Malaysia reported.

Three rescue boats and 17 personnel from the Marine Police, Fire & Rescue Department and Civil Defence Department were involved in search and rescue operations that began on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident was first reported at the Ayer Hangat police station at 4pm on Tuesday when Cheung's two children fell into the sea while walking along a sandbank.

Nearby hotel workers who were alerted to the incident managed to save his nine-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter, but Cheung was swept away by the current.

Chief Deputy Fire Superintendent Fauzi Othman of the Langkawi Fire & Rescue Department said Cheung's body had been handed to the police for further investigations.