Though injured, Navy man saves 7

MANILA, Philippines -After ferry M/V St. Thomas Aquinas collided with cargo vessel M/V Sulpicio Express 7 off Talisay, Cebu Friday night, Philippine Navy sea marshal Richard Pestillos was hit by a life raft and was thrown into the dark sea.

Despite an injured back and without a life vest, Pestillos risked his life to save two children and five elderly passengers.

They were rescued by a local fisherman who took them to the cargo ship. They were later transferred to a tugboat that rushed them for medical treatment.

“I hope the kids are alive, that’s my prayer. Two of them were unconscious when they were put on the life raft,” he said in Filipino.

“I had just completed my paneling round on the lower deck of M/V St. Thomas Aquinas, then sailing on reduced speed at it entered the Talisay channel, when the collision happened. I personally saw how M/V Sulpicio Express 7, sailing in the wrong direction, rammed the starboard side of our ship,” Pestillos said.

After the impact, passengers panicked as the vessel shook profusely, then all the lights went off. In just 30 minutes, the vessel was already gone, he said.

“Without electricity we shouted an order for all passengers to proceed to the upper deck. During that time, the confusion was severe as we started lowering life rafts and giving out life jackets. Then suddenly I was hit by a life raft and thrown into sea,” he recalled.

“It was so sudden. While accidents do happen, I never expected this kind of tragedy,” he added.

Pestillos not only survived but managed to save lives, but one of his civilian K9 security buddies, Ryan Espenada, did not make it.

Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Gerald Fabic, Navy spokesman, said Pestillos’ heroism is highly laudable considering that he could have just swam to safety and be counted among the survivors.

“After distributing life vests and assisting in lowering the life rafts, he continued helping people in need after he was thrown into the water. Without a life vest, he was able to rescue two children and five adults who were struggling to stay afloat before he was eventually rescued by fishermen,” Fabic said.

 â€“ With Ria Mae Booc/Freeman