Chinese fisherman shot dead by S. Korean coastguard
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Buy SPH photosSEOUL (AFP) - A Chinese fisherman died on Tuesday after being hit by a rubber bullet during a raid by South Korean coastguard commandos on illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea, officials said.
The 44-year-old was declared dead around 6pm local time (5pm Singapore time), hours after he was rushed by helicopter to a hospital in the south-western port of Mokpo, a coastguard spokesman said.
"We believe a rubber bullet hit his chest during a raid by coastguard commandos to stop illegal fishing," he said.
Some 30 Chinese boats were illegally fishing in South Korean waters near Hongdo island when a 3,000-tonne coastguard ship launched the operation, he said.
