ILOILO — A 31-year-old man drowned in a beach resort at Barangay Namocon, Tigbauan, Iloilo, on Sunday, November 16.
Police records showed that the fatality identified as alias “Ken,” a resident of Ungka II, Pavia town, was with his family in an outing.
According to Police Captain Alfred Mansoy, chief of the Tigbauan Municipal Police Station, Ken went swimming at around 12:25 p.m.
He accidentally swam in a deep portion of the sea, police said. It was reported that Ken began to struggle while swimming, leading to the tragic drowning.
Personnel of the Tigbauan Response Team, along with local law enforcement teams, immediately responded to the scene and pulled the victim out of the waters. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician at around 1:25 p.m.
Police confirmed that Ken was not drunk prior to the incident.
Mansoy said the area where the drowning occurred had a history of similar incidents, often attributed to its steep slope, which can abruptly change from shallow to deep water. He emphasized the importance of awareness for swimmers regarding the dangers of such environments.
Meanwhile, although there was a lifeguard present at the resort, the strong water currents on that day significantly hampered immediate rescue efforts.
The aforementioned incident highlights the need for enhanced safety measures at beach resorts, especially in areas where swimmers might inadvertently enter dangerous waters, police said./PN
