Two divers’ bodies recovered in reservoir in China

Two missing divers’ bodies were found in a reservoir in northern China on Tuesday, Chinese media reported.

Xu Haiyan and Sun Hao are believed to have been killed by someone using an electrical device to stun and catch fish in the water.

The pair went missing earlier this month when they went diving at the reservoir in Tangshan in Hebei province to explore a section of the Great Wall that is now underwater.

Although the cause of death has not yet been established, witnesses saw a boat moving over the divers’ location while they were underwater, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

A floating marker, which was believed to belong to the divers, was found nearby at a villager’s house. The villager owns a boat equipped with an electrical fishing device, the report quoted one of the rescue team members as saying.

Electrofishing, which has been banned in China, uses electric currents in the water to shock fish before catching them.

The pair were both experienced divers. They were found in an area of the reservoir 40 metres deep.

Police are still investigating, the newspaper said.