CEBU, Philippines - A 64-year-old man along with his son-in-law and two minors were rushed to the hospital after they complained of shortness of breath while they were about to clean up a deep well in barangay Dumlog, Toledo City last Tuesday at past 3 p.m.
Socrates Capacite, 64, a resident of the said place, was pronounced dead on arrival while Capacite’s son-in-law identified as Steward Jamilano and brothers Jordan Abellanosa, 14, and Ariel, exact age undetermined but said to be a little younger than Jordan, are already out of danger.
Based on the blotter at the Toledo City Police Station, Capacite and Jamilano along with the two who are their neighbors were about to clean a 14-foot deep well to allow fresh supply of water to flow from a spring.
Jordan was the first to go down the well but in just a few minutes he reportedly had a hard time breathing. Jamilano, who followed suit, also experienced the same.
When Ariel saw the two in such a predicament, he also went down to be of help but, himself, was gasping for breath just like the two. Capacite also went down to rescue the three, instead he too struggled for breath.
Neighbors who noticed them immediately secured a rope, helped them out of the well, and rushed them to the Toledo City District Hospital where the attending physician pronounced Capacite dead on arrival. — Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)