Two years ago, Chinese student Jinting Guo disappeared while diving in New Zealand. Despite multiple searches, only a shin bone was found. Recently, the New Zealand coroner issued an official ruling based on existing evidence, stating that Jinting Guo drowned after an accident while free diving alone. Examination of the bone showed no signs of trauma, and the exact details of the accident could not be determined, but homicide or suicide has been ruled out.
According to various foreign media reports, on October 19, 2023, the 35-year-old Chinese student Jinting Guo drove to a diving spot parking lot in Wellington's Titahi Bay and subsequently went missing. At first, his wife thought he had gone to study or work, but on October 22, after still hearing nothing from him, she reported him missing to the police. Police found Guo's car in the parking lot, which contained an empty diving equipment bag and a towel. Nearby on the beach, they discovered his diving float, diving bag, smart watch, and other gear, but there was still no sign of Guo.
The police organized multiple search and rescue operations, estimating that he had been missing at sea for over 96 hours. In water temperatures of 13 to 15°C, survival time is usually no more than 30 hours, so the possibility of survival was extremely low.
During the investigation, a dive shop owner confirmed seeing Jinting Guo the day before he went missing, and stated that Guo said he would not go diving alone. However, he may have ultimately chosen to go at sea alone.
In April 2025, two divers found a piece of human shin bone while diving to a depth of 13 meters, not far from where Jinting Guo had parked.
New Zealand police conducted DNA testing on the bone. On October 3, the results were released, confirming that the bone belonged to Jinting Guo. Apart from the discovered shin bone, no other remains of Jinting Guo have been found to date.
Free diving is an extreme sport in which divers descend using only breath-holding, without relying on air tanks. It is considered extremely dangerous, second only to base jumping.