Rescue came too late — residents

Four personnel of the Accident Emergency Rescue Team (ACERT) of Mandaue City are in hot water after residents complained their delayed response in the drowning of a 10-year-old boy in the Butuanon River in barangay Tingub last Saturday.

Lawyer James Abadia, Mandaue City administrator,  said the four ACERT personnel will be investigated after residents said the team walked “casually” toward the scene where the boy disappeared in a 15-meter-deep water.

Abadia said the men will answer the accusations. He said disciplinary actions or even retraining will be imposed if lapses will be proven.

Chrislee Villarin, 10, and his 8-year-old friend went to the river for a swim last Saturday noon. Chrislee disappeared while swimming and his friend immediately alerted their neighbors.

A city hall employee living in the area rushed to the river to rescue Chrislee.

The employee, who refused to be named, was able to hold the victim’s foot.

He then performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the child  but failed to revive him.

When the ACCERT team arrived, the child was already out from the river.

Residents said members of the rescue team were taking their time while making their way to the area as if not responding to an alarm.

One of the personnel reportedly covered the lips of the victim with his two fingers while he  performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation  to prevent touching the victim’s lip.

Mario Perez, ACERT director, said he will identify the team who went to the area for investigation.

The ACCERT team started in 1989 during then-mayor Alfredo Ouano’s adminitration./REPROTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS