Diving instructor drowned in Sipalay

Rescuers tried to revive a diving instructor after he drowned in the waters of Barangay 4, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of SEARS head Dionilo Bogtae)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A diving instructor died from drowning while scuba diving with friends in one of the resorts in Barangay 4, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental last Tuesday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) identified the victim as Henry Aguillon, 57, of Himamaylan City.

According to Executive Assistant Dionilo Bogtae, head of the Public Safety and Sipalay Emergency Assistance and Rescue Services (SEARS), the victim was with four members of the Philippine Life Saving Society (PLS), when he fell unconscious while underwater.

He was immediately rescued and was taken to a hospital but he was declared dead on arrival, according to Bogtae.

Bogtae said the victim was about to ascend from the water when the incident happened.

He said that based on the medical record, the victim’s cause of death was cardiac arrest.

He also said the victim was suffering from a respiratory illness, which might have triggered the heart attack.