Girl dies in jump down Kawasan Falls

CEBU, Philippines - An 18-year-old girl dies in Kawasan Falls in Barangay Matutinao, Badian on Monday afternoon after she jumped down from the top of the falls and hit her head on a rock.

The victim was identified as Alrene Bersalote, a resident of Cubacob, Mandaue City, and a working student.

According to Police Officer 1 Rico Lirasan, Public Information Officer of Badian Police Station, the victim was with her classmates and officemates in school to celebrate their Christmas party.

Lirasan added that he believed that the group agreed amongst themselves to have the party in Kawasan Falls without informing their school.

According to initial investigation conducted by Senior Police Officer 1 Walter Macasling, Police Officer 3 Renel Prosia, Police Officer1 Gruel Pasquite and Police Officer 1 Ramil Cañete, the victim jumped down from the falls and, upon landing, accidentally hit her head on a rock, causing severe bleeding.

Bersalote was brought to the Badian District Hospital by responding police, but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician, Dr. Nerlinda G. Maraguinet.

According to Maraguinet, the cause of death was head injury with severe bleeding. She confirmed that there was no foul play and the incident was purely accidental.

Bersalote’s body was claimed by her relatives from the hospital morgue yesterday afternoon.

Bersalote was a working student taking up BS Information Technology at Cebu Technological University. (FREEMAN)