Yeosu Coast Guard Books Company CEO on Charges of Negligent Homicide in Training High School Student Death Accident

Published 13 Oct.2021 15:57(KST)

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek] The Yeosu Maritime Police Station in Jeollanam-do announced on the 13th that it has booked the company representative A on charges of professional negligence causing death in connection with the death of a high school student during on-site training at the Isunsin Marina dock in Ungcheon, Yeosu City, without detention.

According to Yeosu Maritime Police, the trainee high school student was removing foreign substances (barnacles) from the bottom of vessel B moored at the Isunsin Marina dock in Yeosu City at around 10:39 a.m. on the 6th. During the work, the diving equipment became loose, so the student removed the air tank and fins to reattach them, but was unable to overcome the weight of the lead belt worn around the waist and sank underwater, resulting in death. An investigation is underway.

Accordingly, Yeosu Maritime Police are analyzing CCTV footage from the scene, statements from three yacht-related persons including B who participated in the rescue, conducting on-site investigations, and analyzing related materials.

Based on this, it was preliminarily investigated that although diving work should be conducted in teams of two, underwater safety rules were not followed. Furthermore, the trainee without a diving license was assigned the hazardous task of diving, and no safety manager with a diving license was deployed, indicating a complete lack of accident prevention measures.

A maritime police investigator stated that while conducting additional investigations on Mr. A, all possibilities of investigation, including the circumstances of the training, will be kept open with respect to the on-site training personnel of Yeosu Maritime Science High School, and thorough investigations will be carried out to ensure no suspicion remains.