20-year-old man drowns after trying to save a friend in Bohol

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

TAGBILARAN CITY — A man who went missing at sea after reportedly saving a friend from drowning was found dead in Alburquerque town in Bohol on Monday noon, Oct. 2.

Jhon Cyril Tanginan, 20, and a resident of Barangay Libjo in Sikatuna town, Bohol was pulled out from the sea in Poblacion West in Alburquerque town.

Tanginan was swimming with friends shortly before 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1, when he suddenly disappeared while trying to save his 17-year-old friend, identified as Ariel Duavis, from drowning.

READ: Dead man found floating in Baclayon town in Bohol

Witnesses said he began to struggle in the water and the strong waves swept him into the sea.

“He went missing due to big waves,” said Anthony Damalerio, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer.

Gov. Aris Aumentado ordered a massive search and rescue operation to locate Tanginan.

Dive teams from Telephone and Radio System Integrated Emergency Response 117 (TaRSIER 117), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) -Bohol and Tagbilaran City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office helped search for the missing man.

A team of private divers from Panglao town headed by Dondon Menorias also arrived on scene to continue scanning the waters for Tanginan.

The strong waves posed a challenge for divers.

JPV