Body of missing skydiver found

The skydiver who was missing for more than 48 hours was found floating lifeless near the Cebu City pier in Pasil, ending a weekend search in bad weather.

Ronald Mendez, 30, of Tagbilaran City, Bohol was identified by  his wife Hazel.

The freelance aircraft mechanic was one of six skydivers who jumped off a Cessna plane above the South Road Properties on Saturday morning, intending to land in the reclamation area.

Witnesses on the shore saw him struggling with his parachute in strong winds caused by the monsoon and tropical storm Gener.

Mendez and a companion Federico Albacite of Basak, Lapu-Lapu City landed midsea.

Albacite was quickly rescued by Bantay Dagat members but only Mendez’s parachute was found.

Mendez was fully dressed and wearing diving goggles when his body was finally  spotted by a search and rescue team on Monday noon.

“I saw a part of his body afloat and when a strong wave hit it, the entire body surfaced, I called for help so we could pull the body towards the shore at the SRP,” said Juanito Escabas of the Bantay Dagat.

The Coast Guard and other groups continued to search for Mendez despite the  bad weather and strong waves.

“Fortunately, we found him before he was pushed out farther to sea,” said Faustino Pepito Jr, Coast Guard Detachment Commander.

The victim’s wife Hazel said that on Friday, her husband told her that he couldn’t join the skydiving group because no more slot was available. Early Saturday morning, Hazel received a text message from him greeting her good morning but made no mention that his skydiving trip pushed through.

Storm Gener was stirring up strong winds, overcast skies and waves by Saturday when the group took off 8:30 a.m. from Benito Ebuen Air Base Air Base in Lapu-Lapu city and made their jump a half hour later.

Along with Mendez were Yuki Hosaka, Gary Soria, Boyd Loreno, Fedrico Albacite, and a certain Florante.

Mendez reportedly lost control of his parachute and fell into the sea.

Bantay Dagat members on the shore said they saw the skydivers jump and noticed that one of them had difficulty controlling his parachute due to the strong wind.

Three pump boats with five Bantay Dagat members sped to the site when they noticed two skydivers land in the sea.

Albacite was rescued first. They couldn’t find Mendez due to the strong current.

Bantay Dagat members continued the search and retrieval operation into Sunday until the body was discovered Monday.

Mendez’s family plans to bring his remains home to Bohol after a stopover in the St. Francis Funeral Homes along N. Bacalso Ave., Cebu City. /Carine M. Asutilla And Chito Aragon, Correspondents