Woman drowns trying to save son in Miyazaki

Monday 24th August, 08:11 AM JST

MIYAZAKI —

Tragedy struck a family of four visiting the beach in Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, on Sunday when the mother of two boys drowned while attempting to save her oldest son, who had fallen off the rocky shore into the water.

According to police, 34-year-old Hiromi Miyata had come to the beach with her husband, 40, and her two sons, 8 and 10. Her husband had gone off fishing and the three were playing along the shore when her oldest son fell into the water and got into difficulties.

Police said that Miyata attempted to save the boy but went under after she dived into the water. She was rushed to a hospital but died soon after. Her son was able to climb up onto a rocky area nearby and escaped injury.

News reports

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Latest 15 of 47 Total Comments Show All

chinpira at 03:54 PM JST - 24th August

Rocky shores are extremely dangerous; slippery surface, deep water, strong currents and sharp rocky edges...even a competent swimmer can easily get in trouble there. Seasoned fishermen often get killed fishing off rocks every year... the kids shouldn't have been there, neither the mother. May the brave mother RIP - at least her son is safe.
crikeyitsacrock at 05:10 PM JST - 24th August

Hypothetical question? You're a parent (I'm a dad) and the house is on fire with your kids asleep inside, what do you do? I would go in to try and get them out. To hell with what my happen to me. The mother is a hero.
crikeyitsacrock at 05:13 PM JST - 24th August

She died a hero. Any parent worth their salt would do the same.
Nessie at 05:33 PM JST - 24th August

her oldest son --> elder

Because she only has two.
Nessie at 05:34 PM JST - 24th August

Seasoned fishermen often get killed fishing off rocks every year

Many of them because they can't swim in the first place.

A teenager died at a beach two weeks ago up here in Hokkaido. All the beaches had the ropes out at waist level.
hitori at 10:32 PM JST - 24th August

With all the horror stories of women out there mutilitating, abusing, and murdering their own children these days, I commend this woman. She reacted with the instinct to save her child, a protective instinct only found in "mothers". My heart truly goes out to the family. No doubt they are suffering right now.

That was also the first thing that came to my mind. I still remember the story of the suicide parents who also took their child's life with them, a little while ago. This woman is a true mother, RIP. My sympathy to the family. I hope the elder son does not get drowned in feeling guilty, poor guy. It was an accident indeed... a very tragic one...
Cicada at 10:44 PM JST - 24th August

Maybe the mother was due to go off on a walk by herself after he came back. Maybe she had already been. Maybe...

Maybe some people are speculating too much, to make up for what is not in the news article. I wonder why it is necessary to guess what happened. We won't know what happened unless a competent reporter tells us, but by tomorrow this reporter will be cranking out some other sketch of tragedy for you to wonder about.
Icewind007 at 03:05 AM JST - 25th August

Really sad - and we see this kind of accidents happening a few times a year...

Yeah, this is a norm of the world though. Nothing new, nothing special, and there is nothing we can do to stop them. We only only be careful.

To get my anger out, I would like to scream and yell at the father. Why did he leave them and go fishing. Was he selfishly trying to enjoy the holiday on his own. Well, I really don't know what went on and what the facts are.

This is an absolutely normal activity. I mean, they might have switched later on and let the wife go shopping when it was the dad's turn to play. Those who blindly place blame are fools.
netrek at 06:50 AM JST - 25th August

God bless you brave mother! May your family never forget your love!
azzassa at 06:52 PM JST - 25th August

Sad story. I just got back from Izu couple weeks ago. Waves were nice so they didn't let anyone swim. The lifeguards chased me all day telling me to come in. I let them know that the only way for people to learn is to come out and try. I outswam 4 lifeguards until I finally got bored of talking to these guys and came in. It's the same every year. They don't allow people to swim so no one learns. It makes me very sad to read articles like this.
-Surfer
AK619 at 08:17 AM JST - 29th August

This kid is going to have to grow up knowing his mother died trying to save him, thats something you can never repay back. This mother was a hero.
elbudamexicano at 10:33 AM JST - 29th August

What a horrible, horrible way to die! Now, this father, who enjoyed fishing so much will have to live on knowing that if maybe, he would have involved his family in his love of fishing, the children would not have been bored, go on to a dangerous rocky cliff, fall into the ocean and then have his wife panic. I am a man, a husband and a father, and I feel so sorry for this poor woman. May she rest in peace. PS Azzassa, when the life guards rescue your lifeless body one day, let's see what your friends and family will say then. Some people just never learn.
benhur at 07:22 PM JST - 30th August

what a brave mother.. :(
Sarge at 08:02 PM JST - 30th August

This is sad. RIP, Hiromi Miyata.
asahito at 05:23 PM JST - 7th September

Many of them because they can't swim in the first place.

A teenager died at a beach two weeks ago up here in Hokkaido. All the beaches had the ropes out at waist level.

well u can say that again here in my place a young college girl died after she exhausted in a swimming pool.

but I have to admit, this what I call a true "Mother"... I salut her for her bravery though had only she would think 4 second more she should have screamed first than do the jumpin.. but who knows the real condition any way.