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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Strong currents during full moon claim experienced diver on Cheonan |
| 2010-03-31 |
| A senior military diver died yesterday while undergoing treatment after fainting in a search and rescue operation at the site of the sunken patrol boat Cheonan. He died while carrying out the challenging mission along with his colleagues amid a tough environment, including rapid underwater currents and high aquatic pressure. The rescue operation was a do-or-die battle staged on Full Moon Day, when currents are the fastest in a given month. His death is truly saddening and painful to all. May he rest in peace after his struggle to save his naval comrades. Rescuers have continued dangerous work that put their lives at risk, but have failed repeatedly in their bids to enter the stern of the Cheonan due to swift seawater currents and aquatic resistance 14 times as strong as atmospheric pressure. Two military divers fainted due to high aquatic pressure. A commander in the rescue team said, "The water currents here are three to four nautical miles, and we feel like we're standing on top of a building amid a typhoon." Members of the Navy's underwater demolition team and ship salvage units continued diving at risk to their own lives around the Gwangyang vessel, which lights up the site as bright as daylight. The night sea illuminated by intense lighting was incredibly calm. Even if the servicemen wore thick winter jackets, they were feeling the cold in their fingers. They would have felt much colder underwater. Though the maximum survival time for the missing crew members of the Cheonan has passed, rescuers seem not to want to give up their rescue mission. |
| Posted by:gromky |