Fisherman drowns in Daanbantayan

CEBU, Philippines - A fisherman drowned in the sea off Sitio Tabunok, Barangay Tapilon, Daanbantayan town, last Thursday morning after the air hose from the compressor that served as his breathing apparatus detached from his mouth.

Police investigators said 26-year-old Jonathan Fernandez, a resident of Sitio Looc, drowned after he failed to reach the surface after he lost the hose.

Ines Fernandez, the mother of Jonathan said, her son left their house last Wednesday afternoon to go to Sitio Tabunok to fish with a compressor.

 She said around 6 a.m. on Thursday, a certain Reynante, a companion of Jonathan, went to their house and informed her that Jonathan had drowned while fishing.

Reynante alleged that while they were swimming deep beneath the surface, he noticed that Jonathan seemed to panic and was trying to swim towards the surface.

He saw that the air hose from the compressor missing from Jonathan’s mouth.

Reynante tried to swim after Jonathan to help him but the latter already drowned.

Daanbantayan police investigator Alfredo Mandal said when it came to the fishing operation, Jonathan usually took charge of the pump boat while his companions entered the water.

Mandal added that Jonathan did not have much experience yet in diving with the use of a compressor but he still insisted on joining his companions in the water anyway.

The family of Jonathan declined to have his body subjected to an autopsy. (FREEMAN)