Japanese dies while “diving”

CEBU, Philippines —  A Japanese national did not make alive in the hospital after he reportedly drowned while diving at Whaleshark Tan-awan Watching Area in Oslob, Cebu at around 8:30 a.m. yesterday.

The victim was identified as Marinubo Kuriyama, 52, who is temporarily staying at Malonzo Pension House in Barangay Poblacion, Oslob, Cebu.

Oslob Police Station Chief Jade Sumugat told the reporters that Kuriyama was with his family for a vacation to celebrate the holiday season.

One of the family’s plans is to visit the whale sharks in Oslob — one of the tourist spots in Cebu.

However, what was supposed to be a day of merry making turned into a tragedy for the family.

According to the snorkeling guide Airi Hermeno, the victim was with his family doing free diving when they suddenly noticed that the victim was having a hard time to resurface.

Hermeno added that Kuriyama had difficulty breathing, vomited blood and his nose bleeding at the time of the incident.

The Coast Guard personnel on duty helped in pulling up the victim’s body.

The duty Coast Guard personnel led by Seaman First Joselito Bartolome tried to revive the victim by performing a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after confirming that Kuriyama no longer had pulse and was no longer breathing at that time.

The authorities noticed that the victim already had pulse and was breathing after the CPR.

The victim was then rushed to the Oslob District Hospital where he was declared dead-on-arrival by the attending physician at 9:10 a.m.

The investigation into the incident is still ongoing to determine whether there was foul play in the incident or if the staff lacks the safety and security training in handling their customers.  Katrina Alvarez, USJ-R intern, GAN (FREEMAN)