Body of high school drowning victim found off Pingtung coast

Taipei, June 16 (CNA) The body of an 18-year-old high school student who went missing off the coast of Fangliao Township in Pingtung County on Sunday was recovered early Monday, according to local authorities.

The Pingtung County Bureau of Fire and Emergency Services said the 18-year-old student, surnamed Huang (黃), was swept out to sea by strong currents while visiting the beach with six peers near Fangliao Fish Harbor around 3 p.m. Sunday.

Six of the seven students were rescued that afternoon, but Huang remained missing. Authorities suspended search operations at 8 p.m. due to poor conditions and resumed at 5 a.m. Monday.

His body was found at 7:20 a.m., following a search involving more than 20 personnel and several drones. Family members identified the body after it was brought ashore, according to the bureau.

Coast Guard personnel, local firefighters and military servicemen were involved in the rescue effort.

One of the military personnel, 27-year-old Chen (陳), said he and another soldier launched a speedboat to help after witnessing the incident unfold.

Trained in water rescue, the pair brought lifesaving equipment and along with the help of a group of nearby standup paddleboarders, pulled five of the youths from the water.

Two of them were unconscious after being lifted from the water, but regained consciousness after Coast Guard officers arrived on scene shortly after and performed CPR.

The sixth youth managed to climb onto a set of wave-dissipating concrete blocks and was rescued shortly afterward.

Huang was the only member of the group who did not survive.