Ragasa wave-watching parents charged with child abuse

已複製連結

During last year’s super typhoon Ragasa in Hong Kong, a family of three who fell into the sea while watching the waves in Chai Wan— the parents are suspected of child abuse and have been charged; they will appear in court tomorrow.

The incident happened on the afternoon of September 23 last year. At the time, the Observatory had already issued the No. 8 signal. A family of four went to the Chai Wan cargo handling area to watch the waves. During that time, the mother and son were swept into the sea by a large wave. The father jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue them, leaving only the daughter on shore. The three were rescued by nearby boat operators and taken to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital; the 5-year-old son and the 38-year-old mother were at one point unconscious.

After an investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of the Eastern Police District, the parents involved were arrested on January 6 this year. Last Wednesday, they were formally charged with one count of ill-treatment or neglect of a child or young person in their care. They will appear at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow.