Xiaoliuqiu:A tragic incident occurred on Thursday when a free diver in his 20s died after being swept out to sea by a strong rip current off the coast of Xiaoliuqiu, Pingtung County. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) reported the incident, which coincided with land and sea warnings due to Typhoon Champi.

According to Focus Taiwan, the diver, identified by the surname Lin, went missing on Thursday morning. The CGA's Southern Branch's Fifth Coastal Patrol Team received notification from the police at 1145 a.m. about a male tourist being swept away near Beauty Cave, a well-known scenic location on the island.

The patrol team immediately commenced a search-and-rescue operation involving sea, land, and air resources. They coordinated with local volunteer rescue groups and recreational fishing boats to locate the missing diver. At 225 p.m., divers from a recreational boat found Lin drifting near Beauty Cave. Despite being unresponsive, rescuers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation while transporting him back to shore.

Lin was initially taken to the Liuqiu Township Health Center and later transferred to Antai Tian-Sheng Memorial Hospital in Donggang for further emergency treatment. Unfortunately, hospital staff reported that Lin was in cardiac arrest upon arrival and could not be revived, leading to his death being declared at around 5 p.m.

The patrol team issued a reminder to the public regarding the strong influence of tides, currents, and waves in the waters around Taiwan's outlying islands. They urged individuals participating in water activities to thoroughly assess their physical capabilities and sea conditions, advising them to avoid deep waters and areas with strong currents.