Hongkonger dies in South Africa after losing consciousness while scuba diving, rescue services and media say

A 50-year-old Hongkonger has died after losing consciousness while scuba diving in South Africa, according to rescue services and Chinese state television.

The Chinese consulate in Cape Town on Monday confirmed with broadcaster CCTV that the deceased was a Hongkonger, a day after the South African National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said it had received a report of a male tourist being pulled from the water unresponsive at Port Elizabeth.

"It appears that the man ... had surfaced from a scuba dive unconscious and he was recovered onto the dive charter boat where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was commenced by dive charter boat crew," it said.

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The rescue service said it had received the report of the emergency at 10.45am on Sunday.

Institute spokesman Justin Erasmus also told the broadcaster that medical personnel had tried to resuscitate the man but were unsuccessful.

"[The man] was transferred onto our NSRI rescue craft, and with NSRI medics continuing with CPR on the man, he was brought to our NSRI Gqeberha rescue station where paramedics continued with advanced life support CPR efforts," the rescue service said.

The man's body has been placed in the care of South Africa's Forensic Pathology Service.

The Post has contacted the Hong Kong Immigration Department for comment.