Boy, gathering bats, dies after falling into cave

CEBU, Philippines - A teenager died after falling into a deep cave in Barangay Kantubaon, Tabuelan town, early yesterday morning.

The body of Bryan Ere, 16, was only recovered at 4:45 p.m. or 12 hours after he fell into the Himaroto Cave.

Tabuelan Police Station chief Insp. Roberto Hugo said the victim went looking for bats with his father Elmer Ere, 43, and uncle Roldan Caballero when he fell into the cave around 5 a.m. yesterday.

Hugo said the cave was around 200 meters deep and resembles a funnel. It is located around nine kilometers away from the national highway.

He said they received a call from the barangay captain of  Kantubaon about the incident only past 6 a.m. yesterday.

They then proceeded to the area. Tabuelan’s Fire Station personnel and Safari Rescuers in Danao City also came to help, said Hugo.

It took them a while to locate the body in the middle part of the cave, stuck on some rocks.

“Nasangit siya sa kilid. Didto na makit-i iyang lawas, bali-bali na gyud ‘tawn,” said Hugo.

Rescuers from Danao had to rappel down to retrieve the body.

According to Elmer, Bryan fell into the cave after stepping on dried coconut leaves that covered an entrance into the cave.  It was not his first time to gather bats.

“Nasipyat siya pagtamak. Sige na man sila og balik-balik didto panguha og kabog.  Nasipyat lang g’yud siya ato,” said Hugo.

The station chief said signs have been put up near the cave to ward off residents who often go hunting for bats, especially those who are not familiar with the cave.  However, the signs keep disappearing.

Ere’s family would have had the bats for dinner.

Bryan, a first year high school student of San Miguel National High School, is eldest of seven siblings.  His father is a farmer while his mother is a housewife, Hugo said.   (FREEMAN)