PANGASINAN – A 10th grader, who went along with eight others for a swim, drowned in the river in Brgy. Cabayaoasan, Bugallon town on Sunday afternoon, April 24.
The victim was identified as Aljon Melendez, 16, a grade 10 student, and a resident of Brgy. Malawa, Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Initial investigation revealed that the victim joined eight others who decided to bond and swim in a nearby river at around 2 p.m.
At the height of their swimming, Melendez suffered muscle cramps while in deep water.
His friends tried to help him but to no avail.
A fisherman named Badong Desola, 40, a resident of Sitio Pantal, Brgy Cabayaoasan, Bugallon, and personnel of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) Bugallon joined in to help recover the victim.
The body of the victim was recovered at around 5:30 p.m.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was immediately applied to the victim before he was rushed to the Lingayen District Hospital, Lingayen, Pangasinan where he was pronounced dead on arrival.