3 foreigners in boat accident rescued off Mindoro

ILOILO CITY, Philippines–Three foreigners were rescued off Mindoro by an Iloilo-bound cargo ship on Thursday, two days after their rented motorboat capsized, according to initial reports of the Coast Guard Western Visayas District.

They were brought to St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo at 10 a.m. Friday to treat their leg injuries, said Commodore Athelo Ybañez, Western Visayas Coast Guard commander.

The Filipino boat operator, identified as Ruben Pilar, remains missing.

Ybañez identified the rescued foreigners as Ralf Auer, 54; his 20-year-old son Thomas, and his son’s friend Joshua Marsh, 20.

Ybañez said Marsh is an Australian citizen while Ralf Auer is a holder of a German passport but has been staying for 35 years in Australia. Thomas’ citizenship was still unclear.

The three were on an island-hopping tour and fishing near Marinduque on Tuesday when their rented boat capsized due to strong winds and huge waves.

Ybañez said three clung to the outriggers of the capsized boat for nearly two days until crew members of a passing cargo ship, MV Foremost Trader, bound for Iloilo plucked them from the sea 12 miles west of Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro Thursday noon.

The cargo ship arrived at the port of Iloilo Friday morning.