A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy drowned while swimming in the seawater off Sitio Bantigue, Barangay Luyang, Carmen town, northern Cebu.
The victim identified as Francis Stephen Sagario was with his family when the incident occurred on Friday evening, May 5, 2023.
His mother, Soledad, revealed that she did not expect it to happen to her son because he was with friends who are bigger than him.
“Naa man ni siyay mga kauban nga dagku ngano’ng nalumos man ni?” Soledad said in awe.
(Why did he drown when there were bigger companions around?)
One of Francis’ companions told DyHP RMN Cebu that they were looking for the victim but someone informed them that he had gone home.
According to Francis' 12-year-old sibling, the victim had changed clothes and was getting ready to go home, but instead he played with his buddies once more and went swimming.
They said the victim might have hit his head while plunging into the water.
“Nag-ilis naman na siya kay mouli pero nag-ambak-ambak na sila diha sa dagat. Kabalo man na siya mo langoy (He already changed his clothes in order to go home, but they dove into the sea. He knew how to swim),” he said.
None of Francis' family members were aware that he had drowned, except for the caretaker of the mayor's house in Carmen, who observed the victim floating 500 meters offshore lying on his belly,
The caretaker who only identified himself as Dennis said he looked for the victim’s parents while also saving him right away.
“Nakit-an nako nga murag bata man ni, ako dayon gidagan ug akong gigunitan ang duha ka tiil ug akong gi huhu aron moagas ang dagat nga iyang na-inom, mao to nidagan ko kay ako gipangita ang ginikanan ani,” Dennis said.
(When I spotted what appeared to be a child, I ran to save him and held his feet downward for the water to come out before looking for his parents).
Francis was rushed to a hospital in Carmen but was declared dead on arrival. (AYB, TPT)