PCG confirms sharks attacked tourist

MANILA, Philippines — One of two Russian tourists who died during a scuba diving activity near Verde Island in Batangas was attacked by sharks, the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed (PCG) yesterday.

Ilya Perigudin, 29 and Maksim Melekhov, 39, were found floating in the waters off Pulong Bato on Thursday afternoon.

Perigudin’s arms were severed when a rescue team of the PCG found him at past 5 p.m.

“Members of the rescue team saw sharks attacking Perigudin,” PCG-Batangas chief Capt. Airland Lapitan said. “Sharks were swimming in the area before the team retrieved Perigudin’s remains.”

Melekhov, who was believed to have drowned, was found unconscious at past 1 p.m. He was declared dead on arrival in a hospital in Batangas City.

Lapitan said the PCG is still investigating the incident.

He said the medical officer handling the remains of the Russian tourists have yet to officially declare the causes of their deaths.

Lapitan said the victims might have hit some rocks as they were being swept away by the underwater current.

The victims’ companions, including two Russians and a dive instructor survived.

The PCG urged the Department of Tourism to join the investigation and review existing policies pertaining to diving activities in the area.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Quezon suspended all diving activities in the province.

The provincial tourism office said owners of beach resorts that offer diving activities have been notified about the suspension.

The suspension was based on a letter from the PCG-Southern Tagalog informing the provincial government about a recent shark attack incident.

The PCG did not mention that the shark attack occurred in Batangas.