Man drowns in New Year celebration turned tragic in Zambales

Volunteers retrieve the body of Allan Fajardo Ventura, who drowned as he swam in a river in the town of San Antonio, Zambales province on New Year’s Day. PHOTO FROM SAN ANTONIO MDRRMO

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales—A New Year celebration on a river here turned tragic when one of four friends out for a swimming party drowned.

The drowned man was identified as Allan Fajardo Ventura, 49, a resident of the village of Luna.

Fajardo was found floating face down in the river near the beach area at the village of San Miguel around 3:30 p.m.

According to Demosthenes de Jesus, head of the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO), Ventura had been drinking before the swim and slid into a deep portion of the river.

An excavation in the area has created gaping holes in some parts of the river.

The body of Ventura was retrieved at 4:15 p.m.

Edited by TSB