Another coast guard personnel dies while undergoing training in Cavite

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Another Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel died in Cavite, the second training-related fatality to be recorded this month.

Coast Guard Apprentice Seaman Mori Caguay died while he and his fellow training buddies conduct reenactment of lifesaving scenarios during the Water Search and Rescue (Wasar) training in Sangley Point, Cavite on November 16.

“Caguay was swimming towards a rubber boat, but after a minute, the training staff noticed he was unresponsive,” the PCG said in a statement on Wednesday.

Two PCG medical personnel rescued Caguay, who remained unresponsive even after three minutes of continuous basic life support.

Caguay was taken to the nearest hospital and managed to arrive several minutes later, but he remained unconscious despite medical attention.

Attending physicians declared Caguay brain dead. He eventually died on Nov. 20, or four days after the training mishap.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan vowed a thorough investigation into the incident and the coast guard already coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the matter deeply.

On November 15, a 27-year-old PCG personnel also died during a Wasar training in Palawan after losing consciousness in the middle of a 100-meter open water swimming.