US, Hong Kong divers’ bodies found in shipwreck off Subic

Rescuers prepare to search for an American diving instructor and a Hong Kong tourist who failed to surface after exploring a World War II shipwreck Monday in Subic Bay, a formal US Naval base west of Manila. AP

MANILA, Philippines—Rescuers in the Philippines have recovered the bodies of an American and a Hong Kong resident who went missing while exploring a World War II shipwreck west of Manila.

Romeo Renojo, maritime security chief at the Subic Bay Freeport, said the body of American dive master Steven Brittian was recovered Tuesday morning inside the engine room of the sunken USS New York.

Hong Kong tourist Tin Shun Chuen’s body was recovered late Monday.

The two divers were last seen around sundown Sunday as they were about to ascend from the shipwreck.

Renojo said an investigation is under way.

He said he has recommended a suspension of dives at the USS New York, one of about eight US and Japanese World War II shipwrecks in Subic Bay.