MABINI, Batangas – A 48-year-old dive master drowned while on a diving session on Maundy Thursday in Barangay Bagalangit here.
Police identified the victim as Palmon of Barangay San Teodoro, this town.
Investigation said the victim and other dive masters were on a diving session when the victim signaled to his companions that he was tired.
His companion gave a hand signal asking if he was okay or if he needed assistance but the victim signaled that he was fine and swam upwards. However, upon reaching the surface, the victim went missing.
Mark, a boatman, saw the victim approximately 50 meters away from his boat asking for help. He immediately approached the victim and assisted him into the boat but he was unconscious.
The boatman performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and took the victim to shore. The victim was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.
Cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest secondary to acute respiratory failure secondary to drowning.