Pinay dies while swimming in HK

Butterfly Beach (Photo: Leisure and Cultural Services Department)

A 25-year-old Filipino domestic helper drowned yesterday (July 1) while swimming in a beach in Tuen Mun, a police spokesperson said this afternoon.

The victim, Jenny L., drowned while swimming at Butterfly Beach, along Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun. Yesterday was a public holiday here in Hong Kong to commemorate the turnover of the city to China.

“We consider this as a case of ‘body found,’” said the police spokesperson, adding that the initial investigation showed nothing suspicious about Jenny’s death.

She added that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the official cause of death.

The spokeswoman said the case was reported to the police at 3:37 p.m. and police officers went to the beach, where her belongings were found.

Witnesses at the scene said other overseas Filipino workers had noticed that her belongings had been left idle for a long time and so they informed the lifeguards, who initiated a search.

A helicopter from the Government Flying Service arrived and search  the area but Jenny was not found. Many thought that it was a false alarm after a woman was discovered sleeping in the toilet after getting too drunk. It was a different woman.

At around 8 p.m., Jenny’s remains were found in the water.

“The body was located at sea near the shark prevention net,” the police spokeswoman said.

She said the domestic worker was unconscious when she was rushed to the Tuen Mun Hospital, where doctors later certified that she was dead. Jenny reportedly arrived in HK only around three months ago.