Man dies while saving couple from drowning

The body of a man who saved his two co-workers from drowning was retrieved from the shoreline of Barangay Cartagena, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental Monday. (Photo courtesy of Sipalay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A man who rescued a couple from drowning died in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.

According to Executive Assistant Dionilo Bogtae, head of the Public Safety and Sipalay Emergency Assistance and Rescue Services (SEARS), the body of a

certain Romie Morales, 60, of Bulacan, was found by residents in the shoreline of Barangay Cartagena yesterday.

Bogtae said that Morales and couple Mary Jane and Louie Asuncion went out with fellow co-workers to the beach last Sunday while working on a project here.

But the outing turned tragic when Morales went missing after he tried to rescue the Asuncions from drowning.

Bogtae said Morales first rescued Mary Jane, and when he attempted to swim back to rescue Louie, big waves swept him to the sea.

“Kabaskog gid abi ka balod, plus ka kusog ka hangin kag high tide,” he added.

Bogtae said they were able to revive the couple who is now stable in a hospital.