The incident involving the duo falling into the sea and going missing was reported to police at about 1am on Thursday. It occurred near Luk Keng Tsuen in Sunny Bay on Lantau Island.

Cops, officers from Marine Department, and Government Flying Service were soon mobilized to the scene to search for the two.

Although the two were found after about an hour, both were unconscious and not breathing. The pair were rushed to North Lantau Hospital, but the man was then declared dead. Police said the investigation is still ongoing.

According to a witness surnamed Cheung, she and her friends were taking shelter at a pier from the rain and saw the woman surnamed Mak playing by the beach on Cheung Sok Island, where the water reached only her knees.

Yet, Mak soon called for help from the man surnamed Ho and told him to pull her to shore after taking a few more steps further away.

The two were then washed away by a strong current in the rain, and both were crying for help before the water covered them.

Cheung recalled that the incident from Mak playing by the beach to both being washed away took only a few minutes.