BACOLOD City – Swimming turned fatal for an 18-year-old resident of Barangay Zone 4, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
Idan Joshua Contreras drowned in the Hitalon River in the boundary of the city’s barangays Banquerohan and Barangay Zone 6, a police report showed.
Prior to the incident, Idan Joshua went swimming with his brother, Hermie, and four friends, John Paul Curativo, Lenmar Curativo, Remir Joshua Babaylo, and Ronel Arquillo.
However, they were swept away by the strong current toward the deeper part of the river.
Wilmar Dolorfino, substation commander of the Philippine Coast Guard in Cadiz City, said their office received information on the drowning around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 – and they immediately conducted a search and rescue operation.
According to Dolorfino, Hermie and the four others managed to swim to safety. Idan Joshua, on the other hand, was already lifeless when fished out of the water./PN
