A well-known travel blogger couple lost their lives in a river accident while mountain climbing in Gifu prefecture, central Japan.
The incident occurred on 29 June 2024, involving a 35-year-old Chinese woman known as Agu on social media, and her 41-year-old Japanese husband, both popular figures among outdoor travel enthusiasts.
According to police reports, the couple was swept away by strong currents in a river approximately 80 metres wide and up to 20 metres deep in places. The water level had risen due to heavy rainfall the previous day.
A friend accompanying the couple on the climb reported the incident to the police. Several hours later, the bodies were recovered downstream and pronounced dead from drowning at a local hospital.
Police stated that Agu attempted to rescue her husband by throwing a 100-metre-long rope to him as he tried to swim across the river. When he was engulfed by the water, she jumped in to save him, despite both wearing life jackets.
The couple had married in February of the previous year. In a social media post at that time, the husband wrote, "I've chosen mountains as my lifelong hobby. Now I've chosen to climb mountains with my partner. Hoping this will embark on a happy life journey."
This tragic event has sparked discussions about outdoor safety on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform.