A dolphin hit a motorbanca, causing it to overturn, in waters off Agno, Pangasinan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) says on Monday, March 11, 2024. INQUIRER STOCK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A dolphin hit a motorbanca, causing it to overturn, in the waters off Agno, Pangasinan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.
Fisherman Dexter Abalos, 32, went missing following the incident on March 7. But PCG personnel found and rescued him three days later, on March 10.
The PCG conducted air surveillance using its Britten-Norman Islander aircraft to locate Abalos.
“While on his way back to the shore, his motorbanca was suddenly hit by a dolphin, which caused it to [capsize],” the PCG said in a statement.
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“Fortunately, he managed to swim towards a fish marker, locally known as ‘payao’, and tied his motorbanca to it. Mr. Abalos stayed there for days waiting for a rescue to arrive,” it added.
A dolphin had previously knocked over a fishing boat.
In March 2023, a five-foot-long dolphin hit the starboard bow of a motorbanca, causing it to nearly sink off Palaui Island in Cagayan’s Santa Ana town. Four people aboard that boat were eventually rescued.