Austrian killed by bangungot

An Austrian national would have celebrated his 50th birthday today, had he not died reportedly of bangungot (sudden unexplained nocturnal death or SUND) a few days ago in Pasay City.

Police said Anton Ilavnik’s body was already in a state of decomposition when it was discovered at dawn yesterday inside a shanty on Almanzar Street, Bgy. 185, Maricaban. Ilavnik‘s neighbors noticed a foul smell coming from the shanty, which led them to the horrifying discovery, said Art Relos, a non-uniformed personnel (NUP) of the Southern Police District-Scene of the Crime Operation (SPD-SOCO).

"We wondered how he was able to live inside that small and cramped barong-barong," Relos said. Ilavnik, who was said to have dabbled part time in an electronics business, reportedly rented the place.

Ilavnik reportedly had a Filipina girlfriend whom authorities are still trying to identify. She was not in the area when Ilavnik was found, Relos said. However, among the documents found by the police in the house was a marriage contract showing that Ilavnik was married to a woman in Austria. Also recovered was his visa, which showed that Ilavnik was already an overstaying alien, Relos said. The documents listed Ilavnik’s birthday as March 17, 1953. – Nikko Dizon