Korean dies while snorkeling

CEBU, Philippines - A Korean national drowned in the waters off Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City Saturday morning.

Police believed that victim Kim Seong Soo, 34, suffered a heart attack while snorkeling.

Kim’s body was recovered some 13 meters under the sea.

PO3 Lydo Pinos of Lapu-Lapu City Police’s Homicide Section said the victim and his family, who were on a vacation in Cebu, checked in at a famous hotel in Punta Engaño and registered for a snorkeling session.

Kim reportedly started his snorkeling session at 7:40 a.m. last Saturday. He rested for a while and returned to the sea for the second session.

Moments later, a female Korean national called the attention of the hotel’s life guard, Niño Sayud, and informed that she found a man under the sea who was no longer moving.

This prompted Sayud and another lifeguard, Cris Cyril Sator, to get on a rescue boat and speed off towards the area where Kim was spotted.

At around 10 a.m., Kim’s body was recovered some 13.5 meters below the sea.

Doctor Bernadette Felomina Arjonillo-Rea, also a guest of the hotel, tried to revive the victim through cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) but the foreigner’s body no longer responded.

The victim was rushed to the Mactan Doctors Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police said there was no foul play on the death of the Korean national and they believed that he had a heart attack while snorkeling.

Kim’s body was brought to a funeral parlor in Mandaue City and is set to be flown back to South Korea today. —(FREEMAN)