Afghan tourist from California drowns off Pulau Tioman

ROMPIN: An Afghan tourist drowned during a diving activity near Kampung Salang, off Pulau Tioman.

District police chief Superintendent Sharif Shai Sharif Mondoi said the incident occurred at 11.30am, when the victim, Mohammed Seyar Musazay, 55, a civil engineer from California, was diving with his 24-year-old daughter.

"They were joined by a diving instructor who briefed them on handling the diving equipment. After the session, they were taken to the beach for a practical session with the diving gear before venturing further out to sea.

"They were at a depth of 6m for about 20 minutes. As the diving session was almost over, the instructor helped the victim's daughter to the surface when he spotted the victim struggling in the water," he said in a statement.

Sharif Shai said the instructor approached the victim and found that his breathing regulator had fallen out of his mouth and that he was unconscious.

The victim was rushed by boat to the Kampung Tekek Health Clinic, where a medical officer pronounced him dead at 12.40pm.

His remains were sent to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan about 5pm for a post-mortem.

Sharif Shai said investigations found that the victim had travelled from the United States to the island with his daughter for a holiday and they were scheduled to leave Tioman on Oct 3.

They had arrived on the island on Sept 26.

It was the second such incident on the island after an Indian national drowned after falling from a boat during a similar diving activity on Sept 12.