Russian diver, 28, drowns in Siquijor

CEBU, Philippines - The hot and humid day of the season turned tragic Wednesday afternoon when a 28-year-old Russian diver, identified as Dmitrii “Dima” Shchipachev, drowned in seawaters off Cang-alwang of Siquijor town.

Dima, who came from Dumaguete City, was vacationing in Siquijor and was in a dive with a group (2 divers from Dumaguete City and a boatman of Pasihagon, Siquijor) that day, the Siquijor Police said.

The police said the Russian national attempted to swim through the deep and broad section of the cove, but according to his co-diver, 20-year-old Juvy Pinero of Dumaguete, he was caught with the strong current that may have drowned him, as a result. Juvy however said it was an accident.

Rey Pinero, 42, father of Juvy and one of the diving companions, said Dima insisted to go deeper at more than 50 meters. Another co-diver said the victim told them he was a professional freediver who was engaged in spear fishing. They suggested to Dima to go to other sites, but the latter refused, insisting that he saw a big fish that he wanted to catch in the deep.

Rey started worrying when Dima did not resurface after about an hour, and this prompted them to dive and search for him.

What started as a rescue operation became a recovery operation, said Julito Barbadillo, one of the rescuers who was also a freediver  engaged in spear fishing in the adjacent area. It took almost six hours in getting the body of the victim, said Barbadillo.

Dima, clad in a black diving suit, was rushed to the Siquijor Provincial Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Rommel Masing.

In a post-mortem examination conducted by town physician Rodulfo Cinco revealed that the cause of death was due to asphyxia secondary to salt water drowning.

Yesterday, the victim’s half-brother Sergei Panin, who traveled all the way from Russia, arrived at Siquijor, telling the police that he will facilitate for an autopsy in Manila. He also got Dima’s fishing and diving equipment.

Panin thanked Siquijodnons who helped in the recovery of  Dima’s body, while Siquijor town Mayor Mei Ling Quezon told The FREEMAN the LGU had extended all assistance in the retrieval. “Professional divers of the Siquijor Emergency Rescue Volunteers led the operations,” she said.

The mayor said it was an isolated case and could not affect the tourism industry and the tourists’ peak season that has just started. She called on local and foreign tourists, who want to go diving, to coordinate first with the authorities for their safety. —(FREEMAN)