CEBU CITY – An 18-year-old working student died after saving two siblings from drowning in a private resort in Barangay Catarman, Liloan, Cebu on Sunday, February 4.
The victim was identified as Jundel Escorel, a resident of Barangay Poog, Toledo City, Cebu who worked as a security guard of a residence in Barangay Catarman.
Police Major Eric Gingoyon, chief of the Liloan police station, said Escorel was stationed in a house where people pass to swim in a private resort.
A family was swimming in the area when Escolero noticed a commotion.
Escolero saw two siblings aged 11 and 12 struggling in the water and immediately tried to rescue them.
He successfully rescued the two siblings but he was swept away by the strong current.
Police said Escolero may have failed to fight off the strong current due to exhaustion as a result of trying to save the two siblings.
“He was a strong swimmer and it showed when he rescued the two children. But the spot where the incident happened is known to have a strong current. Probably, he got too exhausted after saving the two children because the instinct when a person is drowning he would pull the rescuer to survive. That’s one of the reasons that the victim spent so much strength and didn’t survive the current,” said Gingoyon.
Escolero’s body was later found in Barangay Poblacion, Liloan.