Two cousins (14 and 19 years old) from Hoa Hung commune (formerly in Giong Rieng district) were on vacation with their family on August 16th. They were swimming at Hon Tre islet, part of the Pirate Islands, in Tien Hai commune (formerly in Ha Tien city, Kien Giang).

After some time, most of the family returned to shore, leaving 4 people in the water. The two cousins were on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), being pushed by a 15-year-old boy. Another young man was watching from the shore. The boy lost his grip, and the SUP drifted out. The girls paddled for a while but were overtaken by a large wave, capsizing the board and throwing them into the sea.

The boy immediately went ashore to get help. Rescuers found the 19-year-old girl unconscious and not breathing. About an hour later, they found the other victim. Despite being rushed to a local clinic, neither girl survived.

Stand-up paddleboarding is a water sport that uses a large board (typically made of plastic or inflatable material, 2.5-3 meters long and 0.8 meters wide) and a paddle for propulsion. Participants stand on the board and use the paddle to move through the water. This sport is growing in popularity in Vietnam, especially at tourist destinations.

The Pirate Islands archipelago consists of 14 islands of varying sizes, located 30 km from Ha Tien City. On average, it attracts around 100,000 visitors annually, who enjoy activities such as fishing, diving, shell collecting, and paddleboarding.

Ngoc Tai