CEBU, Philippines - A six-year-old boy drowned off Larawan Beach Resort, Barangay Poblacion, Talisay City, yesterday afternoon.
The victim, Anthony Aro, of barangay Pasil, Cebu City, was found by his neighbor Jasmine Esconde, 15, and pulled out of the water by the beach’s lifeguard Alfie Fernandez about an hour after his sister Theresa Aro, 12, noticed that he was already missing.
The victim and his siblings Theresa and John Mark, 18, joined their neighbors for a birthday celebration at the beach resort when the incident happened.
Senior Police Officer 3 Daniel Tarucan of the Talisay City police said that Anthony was playing with their other neighbors in the sea when Theresa suddenly noticed that her brother was nowhere to be found.
She and John Mark started looking for him for almost an hour but failed to find him.
Esconde, who was swimming in waist-deep water, discovered the victim lifeless under the sea.She then called the others for assistance.
Fire Officer 1 Roberto Nahine of the Bureau of Fire and Protection-Talisay City who primarily responded the incident said that Fernandez went to their station and asked them to bring Anthony to the Talisay City District Hospital.
The neighbors of the victim who were with them were drinking and did not notice the incident immediately.
Nahine said the mother of the victim allegedly refused to let the victim go with their neighbors but the older brother promised to look after Anthony.
“Dili man gyud unta napaubanonkunosa inahan kay walay mobantay unya nipasalig man ang maguwang nga maoy mobantay,” he said.— (FREEMAN)