A man who lost his daughter in April's ferry disaster ended a hunger strike on Thursday, according to his spokesman.

Kim Young-oh, whose high school daughter died in the sunken ferry Sewol, had been fasting for nearly 50 days to demand an independent probe into one of the country's deadliest maritime accidents that has left nearly 300 people dead or missing.

"Kim Young-oh, the father of Yoo-min, ended fasting as of today," Yoo Kyung-geun, the spokesman for the victims' families, said.

Last week, the father was sent to a hospital in northeastern Seoul from the site of his protest in Gwanghwamun Square in the city center due to health issues. He returned to the site the next day.

The 6,825-ton ferry Sewol sank off the country's southwest coast on April 16, leaving 294 people dead, mostly high school students on a school excursion. As of Thursday, 10 people remained unaccounted for. (Yonhap)