Unfortunate Death

[Anchor Lead]

Two South Korean college students died in Cambodia where they were doing volunteer work, after showing symptoms of stomachache. The two students who had apparently shared the same hotel room are known to have eaten at a restaurant separately from the rest of their group. Here's more.

[Pkg]

On January 7th a group of 19 students and professors from Konyang University's medical engineering college arrived in Cambodia. They were there to carry out medical volunteer work with the Royal University of Phnom Penh. A joint project which continued for the third year. Just one day after arrival, two female students abruptly showed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. They were sharing the same hotel room.

[Soundbite] Baek Man-seok(Public relations, Konyang University) : "They were in pain and went to the hospital for treatment but one died that day and other student the following day."

The two reportedly had a meal with fellow students at the hotel then went outside for beer and pizza. It's not known whether this is the direct cause of the vomiting and diarrhea.

[Soundbite] Na Hong-gyu(S. Korean embassy in Cambodia) : "We believe at the moment they died from excessive dehydration due to diarrhea as well as vomiting, pneumonia and low blood pressure-triggered cardiac arrest."

The rest of the students excluding the two that passed away, remain healthy. Their school, Konyang University, has canceled all schedules in Cambodia and will return the remaining students back to Korea where they will receive health checks and psychiatric treatment. The Korean embassy in Cambodia will consult the victims' families to decide whether to conduct an autopsy to identify the cause of death.