Malaysian tourist dies while diving off Panglao Island

Screengrab from the actual video of the dive shop personnel reviving the 70-year-old victim Oh Eng Hoe on Alona Beach in Panglao, Bohol. Courtesy: Holger Horn

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – A 70-year-old Malaysian tourist died while diving at the world-famous Panglao Island, Bohol province on Monday.

The victim was identified as Oh Eng Hoe, a Malaysian national, according to PO3 Gregorio Perocho, desk officer of the Panglao police station.

Perocho said Hoe was billeted at Kalikasan Resort in Barangay Tangnan in Panglao town.

He went diving on Monday morning at the seawater of Alona Beach in Barangay Tawala together with Freddie Tan and Ton Asperin of Almera Dive Shop.

While diving at 30 meters, his companions noticed that Hoe slowly descended and was struggling.

When he was unresponsive, he was brought to the surface where personnel  from the dive shop performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while waiting for the ambulance.

He was brought to Borja Family Hospital in Tagbilaran City but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Hoe, according to attending physician, died through asphyxia by drowning.