Swimmer 'critical'

Published: 
staff writer
Listen to this article

Medal-winner fights for his life after swimming competition

staff writer |
Published: 
Comment

Latest Articles

Companion dogs comfort Hong Kong’s seniors through new programme

Taylor Swift’s storytelling shines in The Tortured Poets Department

Glowing animals go much further back in time than we thought

SOTY 2022/23: Art runs in the family for Visual Artist second runner-up

SOTY 2022/23: Linguist (English) first runner-up loves to play devil’s advocate

Hong Kong children are taller and heavier over the last 30 years

A 12-year-old boy, who took part in the 28th North District Age Group Swimming Competition, is fighting for his life after being rescued from Fanling Swimming Pool on Sunday.

Yau Tsz-lam, a former student at Wai Chow Public School (Sheung Shui), won silver in the 50-metre butterfly, and gold in 200m breaststroke in the morning. The avid swimmer clocked three minutes and five seconds in his breaststroke final, beating the old record by more than 20 seconds.

In the early afternoon, he participated in the 400m medley relay, winning another gold medal.

Tsz-lam then leapt into the cool-down pool, but started struggling. He was rescued by lifeguards on duty, and rushed to the Prince of Wales Hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

The reasons behind the incident remain unclear; the Form One student has been training since a young age. But it is believed that Tsz-lam could have hit the bottom of the swimming pool while jumping in, causing him to choke in the water.

In the same event last year - which is co-organised annually by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the North District Sports Association - Tsz-lam took home one gold and three silver medals.

Police do not suspect foul play.


You might also like:

- Animated news clips can help boost youngsters' memory - but not many of them think critically about what they see, warns an academic

- Harrison Chung has a vision - to fight for an education system which won't leave ethnic minority students out

- Disabled student Tsang Tsz-kwan is helped by good support systems and kind people at Chinese University

Sign up for the YP Teachers Newsletter
Get updates for teachers sent directly to your inbox
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Comment