Popular swim spot under scrutiny after man drowns
Popular swim spot under scrutiny after man drowns
2026-07-27
A popular natural swimming spot in Keelung has come under scrutiny, after the death of a swimmer this past weekend. The location is Shigong Pond, in Qidu District, where locals flock to on hot days, despite a sign saying that swimming is forbidden. The man who lost his life was surnamed Chu, and was in his 50s. He had submerged himself underwater, and didn’t come to the surface for a period of time, prompting others in the area to rush to his rescue. People who frequent the spot say there are plenty of areas where the water isn’t deep, and there’s even a swimming club that meets at the pond. But a government official says the site is dangerous, and a city councilor is urging the government to do something about it.
In the blazing summer heat, swimming spots like these are packed. It was here where tragedy struck on Sunday, as a 53-year-old man lost his life after he submerged himself and never came back up.
Swimmer
Tried to help with rescue
His wife told us her husband was underwater. When we brought him up, his body was all white. His feet were white. He wasn’t breathing, and had lost his pulse.
The man drowned at the Shigong Pond in Keelung’s Qidu District, considered a hidden gem for locals trying to stay cool in the heat. The victim was Mr. Chu, who’d brought over his wife and two kids on a day out. His wife started getting alarmed when she felt he was underwater for too long, and called for help. Two men jumped right in the water to rescue him, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Tsai Fu-ning
Keelung official
Though Shigong Pond appears calm, there are often whirlpools and areas where the water is very deep. It’s dangerous. It’s a water-management facility, not a recreational pool.
Officials say the site is not meant for dips, but judging from the amount of swimmers, one would think otherwise. The pond is 300m long and can reach depths of 2.5m. There’s even a swim club.
Swimmer
Swims safely
It’s not that different from a natural stream. It doesn’t get deep all of a sudden. You can reach the bottom until quite far in.
The sign says no swimming, and yet, there’s an area to rinse off after a swim. Since last year, City Councilor Tong Tzu-wei has been warning about the potential dangers of the site, saying that it’s not managed properly. He’s calling on the city government to do more than just put up a sign and consider the matter done with.
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53歲男石公潭"下潛未浮出" 妻急求救送醫仍不治
2026-07-27
基隆七堵一處秘境石公潭，是當地人口中的秘境。週日有一家四口前往戲水，爸爸跳水後，遲遲沒上來，妻子驚覺不對，立刻跟旁人求救，雖然人是救起來了，但送醫宣告不治。原來大家所謂的秘境，其實是水利設施，由於潭下有很多漩渦，因此也有立告示，禁止戲水。
大白天，天氣熱到爆，天然戲水區擠滿大人帶小孩玩水，大夥都很開心。但就在週日，有名53歲男子帶家人到這戲水，潛下水就再也沒起身。
[[熱心救人男子]]
“他老婆請我們下去，說他老公在下面(水下)，起來的時候身體已經白了，全身都白了，腳也發白了，沒有呼吸、沒有心跳。”
發生意外的地點，在基隆七堵的石公潭，是當地人盛傳的戲水秘境。朱姓男子假日跟妻子，帶兩個小孩來這裡消暑，他潛下水後遲遲沒上來，妻子察覺不對勁，找其他遊客求救。兩名熱心男子見狀，立刻跳水救人，但送醫後仍宣告不治。
[[基隆市產發處長 蔡馥嚀]]
“石公潭它本身看似平靜，可是它經常會有一些漩渦，還有就是它有很多地方是深不見底的，那所以是比較容易發生危險的地方。它是屬於一個水利設施，並不是一個水域遊憩設施。”
雖市府說不是水域遊憩設施，但這處天然泳池身受泳客的喜愛，石公潭全長300公尺、水深250公分，甚至還有游泳協會在涼亭掛牌子。
[[泳客]]
“大致上來講，不會像一般的野溪差那麼多，它不會說你一下去腳就踩不到底，它有一段距離。”
禁止戲水、又有簡易沖水設備，早在去年基隆市議長童子瑋，就曾發文提醒，石公潭使用定位不清不楚，缺乏完整管理規劃。他認為市府應該要更積極一點，不是只立個牌子就了事
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