Divers recover body of SuperFerry captain

Divers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) retrieved from Manila Bay at dawn yesterday the body of a harbor pilot who accidentally fell into the murky waters and drowned at the height of typhoon Igme last Wednesday.

Divers had been on a search and retrieval operation in Manila Bay after Capt. Luis Nuñez, 58, of Cabcaben, Mariveles, Bataan, slipped and fell from the gangplank of WG&A SuperFerry 19 while docked at Pier 15, South Harbor.

Nuñez, a member of the Manila Bay Harbor Pilots Association, had just piloted the ship to its docking berth when he slipped and fell. The captain was reportedly not wearing his life jacket.

The crew members of the ferry, who witnessed the incident, threw a life ring, which Nuñez caught.

When the captain reached the ladder and tried to climb it, he felt hindered by the life ring and removed it.

Strong waves hit him and caused him to fall into the water for the second time.

Rescuers had to stop their search last Wednesday because of poor visibility, and resumed the search only when the weather improved.

At about 5:45 a.m. yesterday, his body was finally retrieved near Pier 13, some two kilometers from the spot where he fell.

Due to the accident, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager Alfonso Cusi, who has jurisdiction over harbor pilots, has strictly implemented the wearing of life vests for all harbor pilots during the performance of their duty.