British national drowns while saving son in Olongapo City

Rescuers try to save a 57-year-old British national who drowned after pulling his son toward a shallow portion of the water at a beach area in Olongapo City on Sunday, July 16. (Photo courtesy of Olongapo City Police Station 6)

OLONGAPO CITY — A British national died while saving his 7-year-old son from drowning at a beach area in Barangay Barretto here, police said Monday, July 17.

Capt. Melchor Catigday. chief of police station 6, identified the fatality as Rex Jonathan Bruce Lewis, 57, and a resident of Sta. Monica Subdivision in nearby Subic town.

Citing witnesses, Catigday said Lewis’ son was swimming in Baloy long beach at noon on Sunday when the boy went farther, prompting the victim to hurriedly swim and pull his son toward the shallow portion of the sea.

Investigators said the victim was eventually found unconscious and floating face down in the water after rescuing his son.

A rescue team pulled him out of the water and was rushed to James L Gordon Memorial Hospital but was declares dead on arrival. INQ

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