Cramps may have caused chopper crewman's death

CEBU – The helicopter crewman who died during water survival training in Sibonga town last Saturday may have suffered muscle cramps and drowned as a result.

Lt. Col. Bruce Concepcion, spokesperson of the PAF 2nd Air Division, yesterday said autopsy results showed that Airman 2nd Class Domingo Pangilinan died of drowning.

Pangilinan was assigned to the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing based in the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base. About 1 p.m. last Saturday, he and four others jumped out of a helicopter into the waters off Sibonga for a water egress exercise but Pangilinan was not able to reach the shore. 

Pangilinan’s teammates said he may have suffered muscle cramps.

Concepcion said Pangilinan may have found it difficult to swim the 300 feet distance from the jump-off point in the water to the shore, considering that halfway through, one can already touch the seabed with his feet.

At that time, the team was reportedly just wearing camouflage shorts for easy navigation in the water.

Pangilinan was rushed to a hospital in Sibonga right after the incident but he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was later brought to the Rolling Hills Funeral Homes in Mandaue City for an autopsy.

Concepcion said a C130 cargo plane will airlift Pangilinan’s body from the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City tomorrow afternoon, then to his native residence in San Jose, Batangas where his family will be waiting.

Pangilinan, 24, is second of seven siblings. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)