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Written by: Lin Leer
2020-07-22 16:23
Last update date: 2020-07-22 16:23A 40-year-old lifeguard dived at Ting Kau’s Near Water Bay Public Beach in September the previous year and was found unconscious near the shark prevention net. He died the next day after being sent to hospital for rescue. The Coroner's Court continued its hearing today (22nd). The Occupational Safety Officer of the Labour Department who investigated after the incident stated that the deceased’s duties did not include scuba diving and had no relevant training. His superiors and colleagues did not know why he was wearing equipment diving. . The Occupational Safety Officer believed that there was no evidence in the incident that the deceased was sent for diving work, but agreed that the LCSD needs to improve the monitoring mechanism.
The deceased Chen Zhikang (40 years old, hereinafter referred to as Chen) was a seasonal lifeguard. He was on duty at Jinshuiwan Beach on the morning of September 3, 2018. He was sent to hospital in a coma and died the next day.
Seasonal lifeguard duties do not include scuba diving
The Occupational Safety Officer of the Labour Department, Chen Weifa (hereinafter referred to as the Occupational Safety Officer), visited the scene and questioned staff after the incident, and wrote an investigation report. The report stated that the duties of a seasonal lifeguard did not include scuba diving work, and Chen had not received relevant training. His superiors and colleagues did not know why he had not been on duty to the observation deck according to the watch, nor did he know the purpose and reason of his diving. Among them, Xian Yukun, a senior lifeguard, confessed that he was working in the office and focused on documents, and therefore had no intention of taking away diving equipment.
The Coroner's Court located in the West Kowloon Court conducted an inquest on the death of lifeguard Chen Zhikang. (Profile picture)
Suspiciously panic and take off the mouthpiece
The report concluded that there was no evidence in the incident that Chen Diving was related to the work assigned by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The Occupational Safety Officer suspected that Chen was too close to the anti-shark net, so that the air valve on the top of the gas cylinder was entangled in the net. He struggled in panic and "shook his mouth" and drowned. He noticed that although Chen was not on the LCSD's list of scuba divers, he still had access to his equipment. He suggested that the LCSD improve its monitoring mechanism, such as storing the equipment properly and requiring that only those with written authorization can use it.
List of office non-scuba divers
The Occupational Safety Officer said that the recreational assistant revealed that there was no list of scuba divers in the beach office, and it was printed out by the computer afterwards. The family of the deceased claimed that the staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department claimed that diving suits were only used for rescue and search purposes and questioned whether there were written guidelines. The Occupational Safety Officer confirmed that this was only an oral statement and the staff did not provide documents.
Forensic doctor said death was due to drowning
Forensic doctor Guo Jiaqi read out the autopsy report and pointed out that Chen's brain had obvious hyperemia and edema, and the brain tissue had hypoxic lesions. In addition, there is water in the lungs, swelling of the alveoli and bleeding. The forensic doctor concluded that the cause of death was drowning.
Lifeguard at Near Water Bay Beach, Tsuen Wan, drowned and unconscious and sent to hospital for rescue
[Lifeguard dies in duty] Diving in Near Water Bay, the water ghost team returns to the scene for investigation
[Lifeguard drowns] Scuba diving requires a license. The union issued a statement: The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has an unshirkable responsibility
Government chemist Zhong Weihua said that no diving equipment used by the deceased was found and no physical damage was found. (Photo by Lin Leer)
No physical damage to the equipment
Government chemist Zhong Weihua testified as an expert witness. He inspected Chen's fins, diving masks, diving lead straps, and gas cylinders connected to the buoyancy vest and suction nozzle, but no physical damage was found. ; The oxygen and nitrogen concentration of the gas cylinder is consistent with the atmosphere, and the gas supply is not unusual, allowing people to use it safely. Zhong pointed out that there is 75 bar (bar) of oxygen left in the gas cylinder, not 50 bar below the warning line. As for how long 75 bar is enough to dive, Zhong said that it varies from person to person. He described the reading as "not dangerous" and it would be no problem to dive for a few minutes.
Case Number: CCDI-942/2018(DK)
Lifeguard coroner court
