Model drowns during underwater photoshoot

Taipei : A Taiwanese model has drowned after suffering a suspected asthma attack during an underwater photoshoot in the sea off the coast of Taiwan. 

Olivia Ku was unconscious when firefighters and coastguards pulled her body from the waters where she had been participating in a photoshoot off the coast of Pingtung County in southern Taiwan on Monday.

She was transferred to a local hospital but attempts to resuscitate her failed. 

The coast guard refused to comment on reports Ms Ku had removed her breathing apparatus for the photoshoot prior to the accident.

The 25-year-old model was an experienced amateur diver with more than three years’ experience. She was “cheerful and outgoing”, and frequently volunteered to help to clean refuse from the seabeds near Pingtung, a diver with her during the photoshoot told the Taipei Times. 

Another unnamed diver told the newspaper he was surprised at the accident, as underwater photography sessions - in which breathing apparatus is regularly removed - usually take place in shallow water to take advantage of natural light, with a diver on watch for accidents.

Ms Ku was married to a cousin of prominent Democratic Progressive Party MP Chiu Yi-Ying, and is survived by her husband and their four-year-old daughter. 

Mr Chiu posted a message on Facebook on Tuesday which read:  “Your life was cut too short at the age of 25, but you will always be in the hearts of our big family.”

Publicists for Eelin Entertainment, the modelling agency Ms Ku worked for, said they were helping the family with funeral arrangements, and added that the underwater photoshoot was not work-related.