Solo snorkeler rescued after family's distress call triggers helicopter, vessel search

A solo snorkeler who failed to return from the water for more than an hour at a closed beach prompted a major joint search by the Korea Coast Guard, which located the swimmer 40 minutes later.

According to the Donghae Regional Coast Guard, a family member reported Wednesday that a person identified only as A had entered the sea alone to snorkel at a beach in Goseong-gun and had not come out after more than an hour.

Coast Guard officials determined that, with the swimmer having been in the water for over an hour, an accident could not be ruled out, and immediately dispatched a helicopter, patrol vessels, a coastal rescue boat and a personal watercraft to the scene.

Authorities also requested assistance from related agencies and civilian rescue teams, launching a large-scale joint search covering both the sea surface and the air.

About 40 minutes later, at around 4:41 p.m., a helicopter from the Yangyang Aviation Unit spotted A snorkeling approximately 460 meters off the eastern side of the beach. A coast guard patrol unit searching nearby then used a personal watercraft to bring A safely ashore at around 4:47 p.m.

A was found to be in good health.

A had been unaware that the coast guard had launched a large-scale search on the family's report until the moment of rescue.

A had entered the water alone at the closed beach without a life jacket and was not carrying a mobile phone or any other means of communication.

The search mobilized a helicopter, three patrol vessels, a coastal rescue boat, a rescue team, a personal watercraft and five fishing vessels from the maritime disaster rescue unit, along with personnel from related agencies and civilian teams.

No one was injured, but the coast guard said the emergency call and large-scale maritime search could have been avoided had A informed family or acquaintances of the planned location and expected return time and followed basic safety guidelines. The Donghae Regional Coast Guard said snorkeling should be done in groups of at least two, with proper safety equipment including a life jacket, and urged swimmers to notify family or friends of their activity location and planned end time in advance.