Model drowns during underwater shoot

A model in Taiwan has drowned after suffering an asthma attack during an underwater photo shoot.

Olivia Ku was unconscious when firefighters and members of the coast guard pulled her body from waters off Taiwan’s Pingtung County on Monday, the Taipei Times reports.

The 25-year-old died at a local hospital after attempts to resuscitate her failed.

The exact cause of the accident is not yet known but local media reported suggests she had been asked to take off her breathing apparatus and hold her breath underwater.

Ku, who leaves behind a four-year-old daughter, was an avid diver with at least three years’ experience.

An unnamed diver told the Taipei Times he was puzzled as to how the accident happened, as photo shoots are usually conducted in shallow waters and there should have been another diver watching her.

Ku was married to a cousin of Democratic Progressive Party MP Chiu Yi-ying.

Mr Chiu expressed grief at Ku’s death on Facebook yesterday.

“Your life was cut too short at the age of 25, but you will always be in the hearts of our big family,” Mr Chui wrote.