Woman drowns while trying to save her child at Hokkaido beach

A 45-year-old woman drowned after she tried to rescue her child who had been caught by a big wave in Kikonai town, Hokkaido, on Sunday.

According to police and the fire department, Miyuki Yamamoto, a resident of Hokuto City, was walking along the beach with her child at around 10:30 a.m. when her child got into difficulty after being hit by a wave, NHK reported.

It is believed that Yamamoto was caught in the waves as she pulled her child to safety, and was swept out to sea. A passerby saw the incident and called 119.

Yamamoto was rescued by emergency personnel but she was in a state of cardio-respiratory arrest and was confirmed dead at a hospital.

In another incident in Hokkaido, the Japan Coast Guard received a report that "someone appears to be drowning" at a beach in Otaru City.

According to the Japan Coast Guard, a 27-year-old Vietnamese man who lives in Sapporo City, went missing while swimming. Police and the fire department searched unsuccessfully for him.

Woman drowns while trying to save her child at Hokkaido beach

Woman drowns while trying to save her child at Hokkaido beach

Woman drowns while trying to save her child at Hokkaido beach

Woman drowns while trying to save her child at Hokkaido beach

Woman drowns while trying to save her child at Hokkaido beach