VIDEO: Chinese Trawler Collides with S. Korean Patrol Boat

One is dead and another is missing after a Chinese trawler and a South Korean Coast Guard ship collided about 74 miles off South Korea's Eocheong Island Saturday afternoon.

Two small South Korean patrol boats launched from the 3,000-ton coast guard ship, approached the trawler for illegally fishing in South Korean waters. When the coast guard teams tried to board the vessel the Chinese crew responded by swinging iron pipes, shovels and clubs at them, injuring four Korean Coast Guardsman.

During the commotion the 63-ton Chinese vessel rammed into the 3,000-ton South Korean coastguard ship, causing the trawler to capsize and sending ten of the Chinese crew overboard.

One Chinese crewmember, the 28-year-old captain, was in a coma after the incident and was taken to a nearby hospital where he died. Another Chinese crewmember is still missing and is presumed dead.

As a result of Saturday’s incident the South Korean Coast Guard announced new plans to crackdown on illegal fishing in their waters. On Monday they plan to launch 18 ships, and two helicopters to combat illegal fishing.



PICTURED: Yellow Sea