20YO Reportedly Drowned in East Coast Park After a Swim on Sunday

On 10 December 2023, a 20-year-old man had reportedly drowned in a tragic misadventure in East Coast Park.

The incident occurred around 7PM.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, the victim had travelled to East Coast Park together with a group of youths and went swimming. It is believed that they had ventured too far, resulting in a drowning incident. 

The victim’s body was recovered the next day (Monday, 11 December). 

A blue tent was seen by park-goers along the beach of East Coast Park, along with several officers investigating on-site.

The area around the beach where the drowning took place was also reported to be temporarily cordoned off.

When questioned by the media, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) reported that the preliminary investigations have ruled out any foul play involved, but the inquiry is still ongoing. 

Media bodies have also reached out to the Civil Defence Force for more details, and are awaiting response.

As of the morning of 12 December, the identity of the victim still remains unknown.

Not the First Drowning Incident in East Coast Park

In November 2021, a 47-year-old man drowned after being swept into the waters by waves.

In August 2022, a 24-year-old man was found dead in the same waters, and in February 2023, the body of a 49-year-old woman was discovered in the sea off the park.

Drowning is a significant global issue, ranking as the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, constituting 7% of all injury-related deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

As of July 2023, an estimated 236,000 annual drowning deaths occur globally.

In 2021, the Singapore Life Saving Society (SLSS) reported at least 12 deaths and three near-drowning incidents since the beginning of 2020, with most incidents happening in open water.

Although Singapore’s open waters may appear comparatively calmer and safer, experts stress the need for good water safety practices no matter how proficient the swimmer may be. 

Following a drowning incident of a 14-year-old boy that occurred in Changi Beach in August 2020, Dr Teo Ho Pin, the advisor to SLSS, told Channel News Asia, “Singapore’s strong currents and undertows can be dangerous, especially for weak swimmers.”

“You have strong currents going side to side, those coming in to shore and going back out, and you can’t see them. By the time you realise what’s happening, you’re being dragged out into the ocean,” he said.

He also stressed that beaches of reclaimed land, such as East Coast Park, the incline and decline of the seabed is unpredictable.

“It’s a big dip all of a sudden, so people can get into trouble like that,” he said.