Man in His 60s Dies After Falling from Motorboat in Yeosu Waters

Female Passenger in Her 50s Rescued
Upper Structure of Vessel Tilted During Voyage

Jeonnam Yeosu Maritime Police Station (Chief Choi Kyunggeun) announced that "a motorboat operator fell overboard near Dolsan, Yeosu, and was quickly rescued but unfortunately passed away."

According to Yeosu Maritime Police on the 11th, at approximately 3:45 a.m. that day, a report was received that Motorboat A (0.9 tons, 2 people on board) was sinking while moving about 1.3 km west of Dolsan, Yeosu.

The Coast Guard arrived at the distressed vessel and is rescuing the crew members. Photo by Yeosu Coast Guard

The Coast Guard dispatched a coastal rescue boat and a rescue team, and within 20 minutes of receiving the report, the coastal rescue boat arrived at the scene, discovered Motorboat A, and began the rescue operation.

The vessel was found not submerged but with its upper structure tilted. Passenger B (female, in her 50s) was safely rescued, but operator C (in his 60s) fell overboard and was found unconscious, lying face down in the water about 200 meters from the accident site after approximately 40 minutes.

At the time of rescue, C was unresponsive and not breathing. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was immediately performed while transferring him to land and then to a hospital, but he unfortunately passed away.

B testified that while the boat was underway, there was a sudden loud bang and the upper structure of the vessel tilted, causing the operator to fall overboard.

Yeosu Maritime Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident by questioning the other passenger on the vessel.