Water Jetpack Instructor Drowns After Equipment Malfunction in Guangdong Scenic Area
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A tragic water sports accident occurred at Bijia Mountain Tourist Area in Qingyuan, Guangdong on Monday, June 17, resulting in the death of a 21-year-old Flyboard (water jetpack) instructor. The victim, nicknamed Little Jie, was accompanying a tourist through the popular aerial water activity when the hose connecting to his propulsion device suddenly ruptured, causing both individuals to fall into the water. According to his sister Ms. Huang from Sichuan and witnesses, Little Jie immediately pushed the tourist away to save them, but was himself pulled beneath the surface by his heavy equipment, which lacked buoyancy assistance. Emergency services took roughly one hour to arrive, by which time Little Jie had already lost vital signs. The Qingyuan Xinqu District Emergency Management Bureau confirmed on August 19 that it has intervened in the case.
Key Points
- The incident occurred at Bijia Mountain Tourist Area in Qingyuan's Xinqu District on June 17 when the water propulsion tube on Little Jie's Flyboard device ruptured .
- Little Jie, who had two years of Flyboard experience and worked at the scenic area for four months, sacrificed his own safety by pushing the tourist away before submerging .
- A video recorded the day before the accident shows visible peeling on the water tube's outer coating of the equipment used by the instructor .
- A former colleague of Little Jie disclosed that they had previously demanded the scenic area replace the aging water tube due to safety concerns before leaving the job .
- Witnesses claim scenic area staff on shore refused to assist rescue efforts and focused solely on evacuating other tourists while waiting approximately one hour for firefighters .
Why It Matters
This incident raises serious questions about safety standards and emergency response protocols at China's growing adventure tourism sector. The allegation that staff declined to intervene during the drowning, plus prior warnings about equipment condition going unheeded, suggests potential systemic failures in risk management. For Hong Kong visitors who frequently travel to mainland scenic areas for such activities, this tragedy underscores the importance of verifying operator compliance with safety regulations before participation.
This incident raises serious questions about safety standards and emergency response protocols at China's growing adventure tourism sector. The allegation that staff declined to intervene during the drowning, plus prior warnings about equipment condition going unheeded, suggests potential systemic failures in risk management. For Hong Kong visitors who frequently travel to mainland scenic areas for such activities, this tragedy underscores the importance of verifying operator compliance with safety regulations before participation.