Russian Man Drowns While Swimming in New Taipei's Gongliao; Man Electrocuted While Picking Bamboo Shoots in Keelung

(Central News Agency reporter Wang Zhaoyu, New Taipei, 7th) A drowning accident occurred in the afternoon of the 7th in the waters off Fulong Beach in Gongliao District, New Taipei City. A 24-year-old Russian man, Murad, was swept away by waves while swimming. He was found and taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead. Separately, a man was electrocuted and injured while picking bamboo shoots in Keelung in the afternoon and was taken to a hospital.

The Ruifang Police Precinct of the New Taipei City Police Department received a report from the Fire Department at 5:30 PM that a foreign man had been swept out to sea while swimming off Fulong Beach. Coast Guard and fire personnel were dispatched for search and rescue.

A fishing boat spotted the foreign man offshore at 6:10 PM, but he had no pulse or breathing. The crew brought him aboard and returned to the fishing port, where emergency medical technicians immediately began CPR. He was rushed to the Gongliao District Health Center but was pronounced dead. A male Russian friend who was with him identified the deceased as Murad.

Separately, a 43-year-old man surnamed Hong was picking bamboo shoots on a slope near Jiaozhong Street Park in Xinyi District, Keelung City, in the afternoon. He apparently cut an electrical wire while cutting grass and accidentally touched it, causing electrocution. The Keelung City Fire Department received a report at 3:35 PM and dispatched the Xinyi Branch to the scene.

Two paramedics arrived to find Mr. Hong with electrical burns on the palms of both hands, but he was conscious. The paramedics used a basket stretcher to move him from the slope to the road and then onto an ambulance. He was taken to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Keelung Hospital for treatment. (Editor: Chen Renhua) 1150607