21-Year-Old Malaysian Dies Saving Three People From Drowning In Japan
21-year-old Tee Hee Shiang lost his life in the process of saving three others from their overturned jet ski in Japan.
By Mei Mei Chu — 15 Aug 2014, 11:16 AM — Updated over 10 years ago
21-Year-Old Tee Hee Shiang Has Passed Away From Rescuing Three People In A Jet Ski Incident In Japan
21-Year-Old Malaysian Tee Hee Shiang Has Passed Away From Rescuing Three People In A Jet Ski Incident In Japan.
Image via imgur.comA summer outing in Japan turned fatal for a 21-year-old Malaysian after he headed out to sea to rescue three people, whose jet-ski had overturned.
thestar.com.myHee Shiang, Who Was A Purchasing Officer At An Auto Parts Company, Was In Japan For A Business Trip
Keat Lai said his son was a purchasing officer at an auto parts company and would go to Japan regularly to source for products.
thestar.com.myOn 12 August, He Went On A Jet Ski Ride At Satsuki Matsubara Beach In Fukuoka With A Malaysian Colleague And Their Japanese Partner
On Tuesday, Hee Shiang went on a jet-ski ride with his Malaysian colleagues and their Japanese partner at Satsuki Matsubara Beach in Munakata City, Fukuoka around 4pm.
thestar.com.myHee Shiang And His Colleague Shared A Jet Ski While The Japanese Partner Shared Another Jet Ski With Two Other Woman
Hee Shiang and a colleague rode on a jet-ski, while their partner and his two female Japanese friends shared another one.
thestar.com.myThree Hours Later, The Partner's Jet-Ski Overturned. Hee Shiang Rushed To Their Rescue.
About three hours later, Hee Shiang – upon finding out that his partner’s jet-ski had overturned – rushed to his rescue.
thestar.com.myHe Allowed The Partner And One Of The Woman To Ride His Jet Ski While He And Another Woman Were Pulled Back To Shore By A Rope Attached To The Jet Ski
He then allowed the partner and a woman to ride on his jet-ski while he and another woman were pulled back to shore by a rope attached to the jet-ski.
thestar.com.myWhen The Group Arrived At The Shore, Hee Shiang Was Missing
When the group arrived at the shore, Hee Shiang was nowhere to be found.
thestar.com.myRescue Team Later Found His Body Floating in The Sea
The rescue team found Hee Shiang’s body floating in the sea later, said Keat Lai, adding that his son was a quiet and obedient person.
thestar.com.myThe body of Tan Hee Shiang (pic) was retrieved by the Japanese marine police soon after the tragedy on Tuesday evening.
thestar.com.myHee Shiang May Have Slipped From The Rope And Drowned
Department chief Datuk Seri Michael Chong told reporters that three days ago, his parents received a call from a colleague in Japan informing them of the incident. Chong said details as to what happened to Hee Siang were not clear as "all that is known is that he was with his colleagues riding a jet ski back to shore."
"Hee Siang was holding onto a rope tethered to the ski... when they reached the shore they couldn't find him. His hands may have slipped from the rope and he drowned," he added.
His Family Are In Shock As He Was A Good Swimmer
Keat Lai, 57, said he was devastated by the news and the family was in a state of shock as Hee Siang was a good swimmer.
With Help From The Malaysian Embassy In Japan, Hee Shiang's Family Members Had Went To Japan To Bring His Ashes Home
His fisherman father Tan Keat Lai, 51, who was informed of the incident later that day, had sought help from MCA Public Services and Complaints Department chief Datuk Seri Michael Chong yesterday to make arrangements to bring his son’s remains home.
thestar.com.myHee Shiang was the eldest among four siblings. Keat Lai, his wife and another son went to Japan last night to bring Hee Shiang’s ashes home, with help from the Malaysian Embassy in Japan.
thestar.com.my