Coast Guard saves drowning bather with remote-controlled lifebuoy

Coast Guard saves drowning bather with remote-controlled lifebuoy

2026-07-07

On Monday late afternoon, the Coast Guard saved a drowning bather off the coast of Longfeng Fishing Port in Miaoli in minutes, all thanks to a high-tech device acquired in recent years. It took only three minutes to reach the victim, who was struggling to stay afloat, giving him something to grab on. Then, Coast Guard officers dragged him back onshore. The victim was conscious and was sent to hospital for treatment.

In the video, you can see someone carried by the waves. Meanwhile, another person onshore maneuvers a black object. What’s happening?

Turns out, he’s operating a remote-controlled power lifebuoy, which does not require rescuers to go out to sea. Within three minutes, the lifebuoy reached the victim, giving them something to hold on to.

Chen Wen-wei
Coast Guard
Normally, we operate it onshore if the target is visible with the naked eye, but it has a maximum range of about 100m.

While the victim grasps onto the lifebuoy, rescuers drag them back onshore.

Tsai Chong-ying
Coast Guard
We immediately deployed the power lifebuoy to rescue the individual who was drowning and reached him within three minutes. We then swiftly and safely transported him back onshore.

The Longfeng Inspection Office in Miaoli, under the Coast Guard’s Central Branch, was reported of the incident by a member of the public a little past 5 p.m. Monday. The caller said that someone was drowning off the coast of Longfeng Fishing Port, in the direction of the Lovers’ Bridge. The Coast Guard immediately rushed to the scene with the high-tech equipment, pulled the victim up and sent him to hospital on an ambulance.

Lin Tzu-chieh
Miaoli Fire Department
When we arrived on scene, Coast Guard officers had already rescued the patient from sea and assessed his level of consciousness. He was able to walk on his own. We kept him warm and gave him oxygen, then sent him to Weigong Hospital.

The victim is a 24-year-old man surnamed Chen. He and two other friends had gone out to sea, but he ended up drowning. He was conscious when rescuers pulled him back onshore, and sent to the hospital for treatment.

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#tech #devices #coastguard #lifeguard #lifebuoy

苗龍鳳漁港驚傳溺水海巡"遙控式動力救生圈"成功救援

2026-07-07

苗栗龍鳳漁港，6日傍晚有一名遊客溺水，海巡署獲報，迅速出動科技裝備，"遙控式動力救生圈"，在三分鐘內就接觸到民眾，再以人力將他拖帶上岸，傷者意識清楚，送醫治療。

透過畫面可以看到，有人在波浪中，載浮載沉，在岸上的這一位，手正在操控一個黑色物品，他到底在忙什麼?

原來拋出去的，是這一個，"遙控式動力救生圈"，搜救人員不必下海，就能操作，大約三分鐘內就接觸到溺者，讓對方在茫茫大海中，有東西可抓。

[[海巡署龍鳳漁港安檢所中士陳玟瑋]]
“一般情況下，是以我們目視看得到的範圍內，但是它大概最遠最遠我可以控制到大概一百公尺。”

溺者先抓住救生圈，同時搜救人員會協助拖拉，把溺者帶上岸。

[[海巡署龍鳳安檢所小隊長蔡忠穎]]
“隨即操作動力救生圈，下水實施救援，於3分鐘內成功接觸溺者，並迅速將其安全帶回岸際。”

海巡署中部分署第三岸巡隊，苗栗龍鳳安檢所，在6日傍晚五點多，接獲民眾報案，說在龍鳳漁港情人橋前方水域，有遊客溺水，安檢所立刻帶科技裝備，趕到現場，順利把溺者帶上岸，送上救護車。

[[苗栗竹南消防分隊員林子傑]]
“到達現場之後，由海巡人員將患者救起，評估患者意識清醒，可自行行走，給予保暖及氧氣治療後，送往為恭醫院。”

溺水者是一名24歲陳姓男子，一行人總共有3個人一起去玩水，他卻掉進海裡。當事人被救起時意識清楚，後續送往醫院就醫。

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When a medical emergency occurs in the air, the only thing flight attendants can do is ask if there’s a doctor on board. This isn’t just a plot for Japanese dramas—it actually happens in real life.

In this case, an Indonesian passenger on a flight from Taoyuan to Jakarta had difficulty breathing and fainted shortly after takeoff. Doctors say they frequently encounter these kinds of emergencies while flying.

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One time when I flew to Hong Kong for a conference, a pregnant woman had a miscarriage. After rushing over to help, I discovered the medical equipment on board was extremely rudimentary.

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Interested physicians can register with the airline, enabling flight attendants to seek their assistance in the event of a medical emergency. With their help, flying just got a little bit safer.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Hsinchu road signs leave English readers puzzled

A driver in Hsinchu recently noticed some unusual road signage while driving around the city. In one instance, two signs for the same road had the same Chinese, but totally different English translations. Some are literal, while others use transliteration. Someone else discovered that a graphic on one sign was actually upside down. What’s even worse—it’s been that way for three years.

Vehicles on this busy thoroughfare pass a vertical green sign clearly saying the name of the street in Chinese and English: Puding Road. The sign above the road next to the traffic light also says Puding in Chinese, but the English translation for some reason starts with an N. It’s the same road, but has two different names.

People were puzzled by the difference, although it seems like the correct name might have peeled off. But this isn’t the only problematic sign in the city.

This sign indicates the way toward Zhuzhong Railway Station, but do you see what the problem is? The train icon is upside down, making it look like a monorail. The icon should look like this, with the rails on the ground. What’s more ridiculous is that this sign has been up for three years.

Lin Chun-yuan
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For the sign with an incorrect English translation, the city will ask the contractor to correct it as soon as possible.

Huang Chi
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As for the signboard, we will fix the issue by the end of July.

City officials promised to complete improvements by the end of the month. After all, road signs aren’t just for locals. Foreign tourists could be led astray by a confusing sign.

Aside from translation errors, people also discovered an instance in which two road signs showed different English spellings. Both refer to Zhubei City, but the bottom one reads “Zhugbed Shi” in English. Turns out that it’s the Hakka pronunciation, installed only at major intersections as part of an initiative by the Hakka Affairs Council.

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New Taipei opens long-term care center for elderly, special needs pets

On July 3, the New Taipei City Government inaugurated the nation’s very first long-term care center for elderly animals in Zhonghe District. The state-of-the-art facility shatters the outdated stereotype of traditional animal shelters with special rehab facilities especially for elderly and disabled pets. New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi and the city’s Agriculture Bureau also launched a special medical care card for pets, ensuring that anyone who adopts a dog or cat in need of special attention can receive free veterinary care for life.

At this ceremony held on July 3, the audience applauds as New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi and other guests reveal the sign for a brand-new long-term care shelter for elderly and disabled pets. The facility is the first of its kind in Taiwan.

Turning around the stereotype of old, crowded animal shelters, this newly renovated facility in Zhonghe District has won awards for its design, including the Chinese Architectural Golden Stone Award in 2024 and the 2025 National Construction Excellence Award. But it’s not just about making the animals comfortable—their health is also a priority.

Hou You-yi
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To care for elderly and special-needs animals in New Taipei City, we will look after them during their old age and when they need care the most through rehab courses, health management, and long-term care.

Vets are on staff to assist elderly dogs and cats through rehab and physical therapy. Free courses on animal care and rehabilitation will also be held every month to teach owners how to care for their senior pets at home. In addition, the city is also offering a pet long-term care card to encourage adoption.

Hou You-yi
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We’ve launched a special card for long-term medical care. Anyone who adopts a dog or cat from a New Taipei City shelter that has special needs can receive medical care free of charge for the rest of the animal’s life from this shelter.

With significant upgrades to shelter facilities and animal welfare policies, New Taipei is taking strides to provide all pets the care they deserve, and hopefully find special needs pets a forever home.

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With Typhoon Bavi looming, it doesn’t seem like anyone in Taiwan is underestimating the year’s strongest typhoon. Crops are getting harvested in advance, seaside swimming areas are bringing their things indoors, and even cities are clearing sewers and trimming trees while they still can. During the calm before the storm, all of Taiwan is preparing for the typhoon.

Even though good weather is still here, this farming family in Taitung are out in their fields, picking mangoes now so their fruits don’t end up being blown all over the place by the winds of Typhoon Bavi.

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The typhoon’s coming. We worry about the losses, so we’re picking the mangoes in a hurry. If we wait, they’ll be no good if they end up falling to the ground during the typhoon. Of course we’re worried, because this is our blood, sweat and tears.

Over in Hualien, rice is also getting harvested earlier than usual. This rice farmer has been working for two days already. This area’s done; nonetheless, behind him there’s much more waiting to be harvested. The rice hasn’t fully matured, but he’s collecting it earlier than normal because he’s worried about the typhoon destroying his crops.

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This saltwater swimming spot on the Northeast Coast is getting ready for the winds and water of Typhoon Bavi. Ties are being undone so this lifeguard chair can be put in a safe place.

All the seaside tables, kayaks, and sun umbrellas have been moved indoors. Even squat toilets need sandbags to be placed on them in order to prevent flood water carrying in sand and rocks, which could lead to the pipes getting clogged up.

And don’t forget the jellyfish barrier nets needing to be pulled onto shore, because large waves could rip the nets.

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I’m thinking the waves along the Northeast Coast will surely start to get really big. The water will basically get really close to facilities along the coast, so, in general, everything is going to get put away, including tables and chairs as well as sunshades and shade nets like these. They all need to be stored away.

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Trimming these roadside trees while they still can, workers in Taitung are also taking advantage of the good weather. It’s clear to see that all the cities and counties are doing their very best to take on this year’s strongest typhoon.

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There is a pork chop restaurant in Tainan that allows you to "pay it forward" by purchasing additional meals for those in need. The owner recently received an order on the restaurant’s food delivery app asking for a free meal, with an attached explanation that the person was sick and jobless. The owner promptly responded by sending him a free meal.

Pork chops are deep-fried until golden and crispy, before being placed into bento boxes. Recently, on the food delivery app of this shop, someone ordered a "suspended meal," which is a meal that someone else has already paid for. The person even explained in the remarks column why he ordered the meal, and that made an impression on the shop owner.

The message read:“I was unemployed for a while, and for two months, Iwas trying to find a suitable job. After having finally found one, I caught the flu. I only earned two days’ wages. I have no choice but to order this meal.” After reading this, the shop owner decided to take action.

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It was all about trust. It was quite a long message, and he was sincere. Since all this money was donated by everyone out of charity, I couldn’t just casually use it, so I wanted to make sure. I wanted to verify, and so I left him a message to call me back. If everything checked out, I would make him a bento, I’d even cover the delivery fee.

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I felt that this guy needed help, and I’ve been keeping tabs on him to see if he’s recovered from the flu.

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Well, the guy said he couldn’t talk, and the boss is caring and wanted to help.

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Presidential office condemns assault on media personality Yaita Akio

In Taiwan, free speech is enjoyed by all, but with that freedom comes the reality that some want to take it away, especially with violence and intimidation. On Monday, veteran media personality Yaita Akio was suddenly punched by a Chinese man who had come to Taiwan as a Hongkonger, and on Tuesday the Presidential Office condemned the incident, saying in Taiwan violence like this is never permissible.

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If they sent someone here, it’s because they’re hoping to get me to shut up. It’s as if they’re saying they can sanction me from abroad. This is something akin to Lam Wing-kee’s red-paint attack or young exiled Hong Kong activists now living in Taiwan. For China, they use criminals in Hong Kong who come to Taiwan to commit crimes before fleeing. They’ve found success at creating an environment of fear, and so I think this time what happened to me is an extension of that.

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We absolutely do not condone violence. For incidences like this, I’m confident that they serve as a warning sign for Taiwan. We need to defend freedom of speech, so, going forward, we all need to work even harder.

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Around the world, China is stalking, harassing, and using violence in order to suppress a variety of voices. When it comes to clamping down on free speech, Taiwan is a democratic society governed by the rule of law, so, for our legal system, situations like this cross the line, and therefore this kind of behavior will not be permitted.

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ITRI seeks to strengthen Taiwan tech by developing drones, robots, and AI

On July 6, Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute celebrated its 53rd anniversary. During its celebration ceremony, ITRI exhibited a host of high tech developments, including advanced semiconductors, smart robots, and smart medical technology. These advancements will help bolster Taiwan’s tech resiliency, ensuring that the country remains competitive during this era of digital transformation.

This robotic arm can cook up noodles, grill a patty, and, before you know it, dinner is served.

There’s also this drone, which, when disaster strikes, can do many helpful tasks that improve disaster response efficiency, like flying to hard-to-reach mountainous areas. Celebrating its 53rd anniversary, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, or ITRI exhibited seven fields of technological advancements. Ministry of Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Ho Chin-tsang and Legislator Ker Chien-ming congratulated ITRI for its good work.

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Recently, it seems like everybody’s talking about drones, but we at ITRI call these machines uncrewed vehicles. Every branch from the Army and Navy to the Air Force, even the Taiwan Space Agency, is using uncrewed vehicles; robots are also a kind of uncrewed vehicle. So, what’s the point in all this? It’s that, for the most recent wave of agentic AI, the AI’s brainpower has evolved as well as its ability to communicate.

This year, ITRI’s theme is “advancing via cross-domains, breaking new ground together”. Facing the ever-present challenge of AI, ITRI is focusing on 3 key fields: uncrewed vehicles, cutting-edge semiconductors, and all the various fields of AI. The institute is also striving to connect the data and computing power of small and medium-sized enterprises to make Taiwan an even stronger competitor.

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Right now, we’re primarily working towards three directions: one is AI, another is drones, and the third is robots. By utilizing these AI tools that I just mentioned along with systems engineering methods, I hope we can develop technology that industries will quickly adopt.

In its five decades of existence, ITRI has worked hard to upgrade all of Taiwan’s industries in order to help the country become a resilient global center of tech.

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