• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two individuals died in separate drowning incidents in Negros Occidental on July 1, police reports showed.
A 51-year-old fisherman, identified only by the alias “Joy”, died after he was found floating unconscious at sea off Barangay Central Tabao in Valladolid.
Police investigation showed the victim had told his nephew that he was not feeling well.
Despite his condition, he still went for a swim. After “Joy” was found, he was brought to Valladolid District Hospital, where he was declared dead.
In Himamaylan City, a 56-year-old farmer, who went by the alias “Sixto,” drowned after he and his wife were crossing a stream in Sitio Pangi, Barangay Carabalan.
The couple were on their way home from the market when the woman slipped on a wet concrete pavement.
When the victim tried to help his wife, both fell into the rushing water, police investigation showed.
The wife managed to save herself by holding onto hanging vines and immediately sought help from nearby residents. However, her husband was carried away by the current.
Search efforts led to the recovery of the victim’s body about 800 meters downstream. | GPB
