Man missing after jumping off bridge

CEBU, Philippines - A 20-year-old man went missing after he jumped off the Nellas Bridge in Sitio Kaipilan, Barangay Poblacion 1, Carcar, past 9 a.m. yesterday.

Jerwin Cañada, a resident of barangay Poblacion II was allegedly carried by the strong current of the water under the bridge due to the continuous rainfall these past few days.

Jerwin, together with his father Cesar and a friend who was only identified as a certain Ricky, were walking home from selling bottled mineral water along Leon Kilat St. in Cebu City during the Sinulog.

Cesar said that when they were approaching Nellas Bridge, Jerwin tried to entice Ricky to swim with him but Ricky refused. Jerwin instead asked to borrow a pair of shorts from Ricky whose house was just nearby.

Cesar said Jerwin jumped off from the bridge to the water 15 feet below, he only surfaced once before going under and disappearing.

According to Carcar police investigator Rey Fuentes a search and rescue operation was conducted right after Cesar reported the incident.

“Dili man gyud unta na dapat kaligoan kay kusog ang bul-og sa tubig gikan sa uwan,” he said.

A joint operation was conducted by the personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Special Reaction Unit-7, Philippine National Police, and some residents of the said barangay.

 Fuentes said that his personnel stationed themselves in barangays Poblacion II and Poblacion III where both ends of the bridge are connected including Sitio Burgos where the river ends.

“Tua pa ngadto among operatives pero kung dili makit-an karon ang biktima possible hangtod ugma pa ang operation,” he said yesterday afternoon.

Fuentes is hoping that they will be able to find Jerwin as soon as the water level descends.   (FREEMAN NEWS)