PCG personnel dies during training in Palawan

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MANILA, Philippines — A personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) died during a water search and rescue (WASAR) training in Palawan, the agency said Friday.

According to the PCG, a 27-year-old Apprentice Seaman from its Palawan district lost consciousness in the middle of a 100-meter swim on Wednesday, November 15.

The PCG said a training staff immediately noticed the situation and conducted a cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The personnel was also brought to the nearest hospital for further medical assistance, but he was declared dead by the attending physician at around 9 p.m.

“As guardians of the sea, our personnel are expected to have relevant knowledge and skills in swimming and saving lives at sea,” PCG Commandant Admiral Gil Gavan said.

“With this incident, rest assured that our existing training safety protocols will be reviewed and improved to ensure that every personnel preparing to become first responders can effectively serve the Filipino nation by upholding [the] safety of lives at sea,” he added.

The PCG also said that Gavan has suspended all ongoing WASAR training on Thursday.

“All WASAR courses are hereby suspended immediately pending the conduct of review of safety procedures by the Coast Guard Special Operations Force and cognizant units,” the coast guard head said.

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