College student drowns in Lapu beach

A 22-YEAR-OLD man drowned while swimming in a beach resort in barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, shortly before noon yesterday.

Police identified the fatality as Christine Cajes, an incoming fourth year Bachelor of Science in Education student of the Lyceum De Cebu. He was a native of Malitbog, Leyte, who lived in Juana Extension in Cebu City.

Police said Cajes and his relatives went to Portofino beach to celebrate the birthday of the man’s 3-year old cousin.

Cajes was seen attending to his cousin before heading out to swim.

At 11:45 a.m., beach watcher Rudy Almadin spotted an unconscious Cajes floating about 10 meters from the shoreline, said police.

Almadin rescued Cajes and sought help of the resort’s nurse.

A resort guest, who is a doctor, tried to revive Cajes, but the victim remained unconscious.

Paramedics arrived and brought Cajes to the Mactan Doctors’ Hospital where he was declared dead by the attending physician.

Dale Israel, the victim’s cousin and day desk coordinator of Cebu Daily News, said Cajes had no illness and didn’t drink any alcoholic beverage when he swam.

Israel said Cajes knew how to swim, but he may have suffered muscle cramps while swimming.

Police said Cajes’ relatives were dismayed over the resort’s alleged lack of lifeguards.

PO2 Winston Ybañez, homicide investigator, said the resort management said they have four lifeguards who were also Aquanauts and a company nurse.

A staffer of the resort who asked not to be named said the management was willing to shoulder the hospital and funeral expenses as long as the victim’s family would sign an affidavit signifying that they won’t file a case./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA