NEGROS Occidental — A 42-year-old man and his nine-year-old nephew drowned in a river in Barangay Mabini, Cadiz City, on February 17.
In a report from the Cadiz City Police Station, the incident occurred at around 10:40 a.m. at Nabinay River. Authorities withheld the identities of the victims, who were both residents of the area.
Initial investigation showed that the victims, along with another minor, were fishing in the river when the child suddenly began to drown while gathering fish. The older victim, who was the child’s uncle, immediately attempted to rescue him.
However, due to the strong current, both were reportedly swept away and submerged. A minor witness told authorities that the uncle appeared to have been overwhelmed by the current while trying to save the child.
At around 2:40 p.m., the local police station received a report of the incident from Cadiz City CREATE Rescue. Police, together with personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and Cadiz City CREATE Rescue, conducted a joint search and retrieval operation.
After several hours, the bodies of the victims were recovered from the river and brought to the Cadiz City District Hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician./PN
