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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PCG suspends water search, rescue training after drowning incident

PCG suspends water search, rescue training after drowning incident

Published Nov 17, 2023 05:22 am
PCG WASAR.jpg
Personnel of Coast Guard District Palawan holds a water search and rescue (WASAR) training on Nov. 14, 2023. A day after, one of its personnel drowned, prompting the suspension of all WASAR trainings by the Philippine Coast Guard. (Photo courtesy of PCG)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has temporarily stopped all of its water search and rescue (WASAR) training nationwide since Thursday, Nov. 16, following the death of one of its personnel during an endurance swim.

PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said a 27-year-old personnel of the Coast Guard District Palawan drowned during a WASAR training on Nov. 15, prompting him to suspend such exercise in all Coast Guard districts around the country.

"All WASAR courses are hereby suspended immediately pending the conduct of review of safety procedures by the Coast Guard Special Operations Force and cognizant units," Gavan said in a statement on Friday, Nov. 17.

According to PCG, a WASAR training commenced on Nov. 14 for the personnel of Coast Guard District Palawan. It was meant to equip participants with skills on basic life support, first aid, rescue and life-saving techniques, and underwater skills.

However, on the second day of the training, a male personnel of the Coast Guard District Palawan with a rank of Apprentice Seaman "lost consciousness" while undergoing a 100-meter endurance swim, although it was "not necessarily the exact goal during the exercise."

The Coast Guard District Palawan said that a training staff noticed the unconscious personnel and conducted a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 

The PCG personnel was brought to a hospital for further medical assistance but he was declared dead by the attending physician around 9 p.m.

The PCG National Headquarters said the cause of death was "hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy secondary to a submersion injury (drowning) and subsequent arrest."

"As guardians of the sea, our personnel are expected to have relevant knowledge and skills in swimming and saving lives at sea," Gavan said.

"With this incident, rest assured that our existing training safety protocols will be reviewed and improved to ensure that every personnel preparing to become first responders can effectively serve the Filipino nation by upholding safety of lives at sea," he added. 

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