Teen drowns while spearfishing in Batangas

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY — An 18-year-old construction worker drowned early Sunday while spearfishing in waters off Bauan town in Batangas province, a police report said.

Batangas police reported that local resident Richard Bonifacio went spearfishing with his friend Jomar Valdez in the vicinity of Barangay Sampaguita at around 1:40 a.m.

Valdez told investigators that Bonifacio suddenly jumped out of their fishing boat 50 meters away from the shore but did not surface.

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Later, Bonifacio was found unconscious. He died while being rushed to the Bauan Community Hospital.

The doctor recorded the cause of his death as “hypoxia secondary to drowning.” Hypoxia refers to low blood oxygen levels.

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According to Valdez, the victim was under the influence of alcohol when they went out fishing.

The police are conducting further investigation but listed his death as a “drowning incident.”

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