By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – A 17-year-old Grade 9 student drowned in a river in Purok Maabi-abihon 1, Barangay Lag-asan, Bago City, Negros Occidental on Friday.
Police Master Sgt. Magno Pahayupan of the Bago City Police Station said the victim, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, did not attend school that afternoon and went swimming with six friends around 2 p.m.
While in the water, the victim reportedly shouted for help, but his friends initially thought he was joking.
They realized something was wrong when they saw him submerged.
The group immediately sought help from nearby bystanders.
Pahayupan said the victim may have experienced leg cramps, which caused him to drown.
Rescuers found his body three hours later.
He was brought to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
According to rescuers, the river current beneath the surface was strong.
