The family of an actor who drowned while filming a TV drama has agreed a settlement with the producers.

The father, wife and son of Chen Yunxin will get 430,000 yuan (US$53,086) from Beijing Dongfang Chuanqi International Communication Company and the Beijing Ciwen Film and Television Production Company, announced Shanghai Yangpu District People's Court yesterday.

His 24-year-old son Chen Yijia said that the two producers had signed an agreement with the family on the amount of the payout and offered an apology as well.

The family had initially requested nearly 800,000 yuan (US$100,000) compensation, a public apology in major local media, a memorial and the actor's name being added to the cast list. They even requested a personal apology from its director Wong Jing.

The settlement came after three months of wrangling in the court.

"The trial has lasted so long and we were exhausted," Chen Yijia said.

"What else could we do?"

Chen Yunxin drowned in Huangpu River in July last year while taking part in filming for a TV series called "Phoenix in Fire," Yuhuofenghuang. The river was at high tide at the time and Chen began to flounder 2 minutes after jumping into it. He was not wearing any safety equipment.

People on the bank threw two life buoys towards him, but he failed to grab either of them, according to executive producer Cheng Xiaohui.

Another employee jumped into the water to save him but was unable to reach him due to the conditions.

Chen's body was found two days later, 4 kilometres from the area where they were shooting the scene.

The family filed a lawsuit against the two producers after failing to agree compensation. They accused them of asking him to do the job of a stunt man, even though he had never received any special training.

The investors argued that they had offered to tie a rope to Chen's waist before he jumped into the river, but he refused. They have apologized for bringing sadness to the family and vowed to learn from the accident.

(China Daily February 24, 2006)