Two brothers killed, six survive beach drowning

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two brothers died while six others survived in a drowning incident in a beach resort in Guimbal, Iloilo morning of July 5.

The fatalities were identified as Kyle, 10, and Charles, 16, of Barangay Sta. Cruz, San Miguel, Iloilo.

According to police reports, the incident happened around 9:30 a.m. at the beachfront of Tinagong Dagat Beach Resort in Barangay Baras, Guimbal.

Rescuers retrieved Charles around 12:10 pm at a depth of about 4 meters while his brother was found five minutes later.

Corporal Tommy Macalalag, Guimbal police investigator, said their bodies were found near each other.

They were rushed to Rep. Pedro Trono Memorial District Hospital in Guimbal town but were declared dead on arrival.

The six other victims were rescued minutes after the incident.

Kristelle Faith Domine, 10, and Norma Moreno, 52, were immediately saved by their other family members and beach resort personnel.

They were treated but did not require hospital confinement.

Other rescued victims were Leo Lagare, 50; sisters Zuwela Zabdani, 23, and Rhojani Zabdani, 19; and Grace Abegail Moreno, 16.

Except for Rhojani, all three are in stable condition and would be transferred to Aleosan District Hospital while Rhojani was referred to Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City for further treatment.

The family of 27 from San Miguel went on an excursion to commemorate the third day since the interment of a family member.

The group of eight allegedly went to a deep portion of the sea and was washed away by the waves and strong water current.

The resort’s lifeguard told police investigators that he allegedly warned the group not to swim in that portion since the seabed had a steep downslope – colloquially coined as ‘kantilado’.

Macalalag said investigation is still ongoing.