Advertisement

Diving lesson in Pulau Tioman ends in tragedy for Singapore couple

A diving lesson gone wrong claims the lives of two Singaporeans off the coast of Tioman island in Malaysia.

UPDATED: 9 Sept 11:40am

A diving lesson attended by a married couple from Singapore ended in tragedy after the husband and his instructor drowned off the coast on Pulau Tioman on Saturday, reported Malaysian news agency Bernama.

Rompin deputy police chief ASP Zainul Mujahidin Mat Yudin told Bernama the incident occurred at around noon at the Air Batang beach in Tioman.

He said the couple were practising their diving skills with the 48-year-old coach -- also a Singaporean -- about 25 metres from the beach.

"During the incident, the wife suddenly realised that her husband and their coach were having some kind of difficulties before she went up to the surface and screamed for help," he said.

"Several individuals managed to bring the victims to the beach and some even tried to give CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to the victims, but it was just too late," he added.

The diving instructor has been identified as Mr Tan Seah Heng and his student as Mr Lee Yong Yeow, 35.

He said the bodies were taken to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital for post mortem. Family members of both victims arrived at the hospital to collect the bodies early Sunday morning.

Chinese daily Shin Min Daily News reported that the 35-year-old Singaporean trainee had to be pulled out of the water by his own wife. It added that both instructor and trainee are believed to have run out of air in their diving tanks.

Malaysia's east coast islands, Tioman among them, are famed for their corals and marine life and are a  popular dive destination for Singaporeans.

In June, six divers -- a Singaporean, a Chinese and four Malaysian -- who went missing off Tioman were rescued when they were spotted by a passing tugboat after spending an entire night in the sea.