Taichung police are looking into whether illegal fishing practices caused the death of a Vietnamese man who appeared to have been electrocuted yesterday while fishing near Xinguang Bridge in the city's Houli District (后里), authorities said.
The Taichung Fire Bureau received a report of an incident near the bridge at 4:51pm, and first responders found a foreign male at the scene with no signs of life, authorities said, adding that he was confirmed dead after being taken to hospital.
The man's identity was initially unknown, the Taichung City Police Department's Dajia Precinct said in a statement.
Photo: CNA
A 49-year-old man surnamed Hsu (徐), who reported the incident, told authorities that he had received a call from a Vietnamese man asking for help and rushed to the scene, police said.
Officers contacted a 34-year-old Vietnamese man surnamed Ho, who said the deceased was a fellow countryman surnamed Tran, police said.
Police have confirmed that the victim was a 37-year-old Vietnamese man surnamed Tran.
Ho reportedly said that they had both agreed a week earlier to go fishing on the river with electric fishing gear.
It was raining when Tran died, and their electric gear might have malfunctioned, Ho allegedly said.
Firefighters who arrived at the scene initially suspected that Tran was struck by lightning.
Police said the case is still under investigation as they need to determine the exact location of the incident, the equipment used and whether any illegal activity was involved.
Electrofishing is illegal under the Fisheries Act (漁業法). Perpetrators can face up to five years in prison, and/or a fine of up to NT$150,000.
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