Man drowns while river tracing at Hsinchu County waterfall

Taipei, July 27 (CNA) A 45-year-old man surnamed Chuang (莊) drowned Sunday while river tracing at Shuanglong Waterfall in Hsinchu County, local police said, adding that the cause of the accident was still being investigated.

According to the Hsinchu County Fire Department, the incident occurred Sunday morning during a river tracing activity organized by a local company that involved two instructors and six participants.

Chuang, one of the instructors, reportedly fell into turbulent water while passing through a whirlpool area. Although members of the group quickly pulled him from the water and immediately performed CPR, he could not be revived, the department said in a statement.

Rescue personnel used a roll stretcher and ropes to navigate the difficult terrain and carry Chuang to a nearby service road. The effort took nearly an hour, the statement said.

Chuang was then transported to a hospital by ambulance, but his family later decided to discontinue resuscitation, the department said.