The four fishermen told Phun Nu district police that they detonated an underwater explosive after seeing the diver's bubbles at the surface and thinking that it was a large fish.
They realised their horrific error when they entered the water supposedly to recover any fish but instead found the diver, who was already dead.
The fishermen tried to leave the scene, but Phun Nu coastguards, who had heard the explosion, came over to arrest them, as dynamite fishing is illegal in Vietnam.
The full scale of the tragedy then became clear. It is reported that the fishermen are to be charged over the death, and with illegally destroying marine resources.
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