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Boatmen demanded cash to recover bodies

By Qian Yanfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-02 07:58

The owners of two fishing boats are under investigation by police after they refused to recover the bodies of three drowned students unless locals first paid them 36,000 yuan ($5,300) in cash.

The deceased, all aged 19, were among 10 college freshmen on a school outing on Oct 24 when they saw two boys struggling in the Yangtze River at Jingzhou, Hubei province.

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Eyewitnesses said the Yangtze University students formed a human chain to reach the boys but one lost their grip and nine were swept offshore.

Several swimmers and two fishermen joined the rescue and successfully saved the two boys and six of the students, but three more - Chen Jishi, He Dongxu and Fang Zhao - were drowned.

The two boats arrived at the scene minutes later but the owners, who have not been identified, insisted on charging the distraught students and teachers 12,000 yuan for each body recovered, said police.

After landing two bodies, the fishermen then stopped and demanded a further 6,000 yuan as the sun had gone down, making the last body harder to find, said police.

Eyewitnesses said the crews sat idly for 30 minutes while teachers and students scraped together the money.

Police are investigating whether the fishermen are guilty of extortion and the parents of the victims have demanded a thorough probe.

The incident sparked outrage in the media and on the Internet, with many condemning the actions of the boat crews as "immoral" and "shameful".

Various reports have revealed it is common practice in the area for boat owners to stand by in emergencies and then charge people who need help.

A local police officer said a private salvaging team had made large sums recovering drowning victims, sometimes charging up to 10,000 yuan per body.

The authorities in Jingzhou have also been the target of critics, who said more warning signs should have been placed as the river is known for its dangerous undercurrents.