ONE of the three teenagers perished while swimming in the seas off Barangay Inoburan, Naga City last Friday, July 14, 2023.
Police Lieutenant Colonel William Homoc, chief of the Naga City Police Station, identified the deceased as 16-year-old Ken Seguisabal Umbay, of Purok Santan, Barangay Lanas, Naga City.
His elder brother, Louie Seguisabal Umbay, and Leah Montevirgen, both 18 years old, were rescued.
The victims and their friends had gone swimming in the area to celebrate something, according to the police investigation.
However, a large wave struck them all of a sudden, dragging them into the deeper part of the sea.
Louie was the first to be saved by their swimming-savvy companions.
After gaining consciousness, Louie returned to the water to save his girlfriend, who survived.
But his younger brother was discovered already dead after a few hours.
Ken was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
In an interview with SunStar Cebu, Annalyn Lapitan, a resident who witnessed the tragedy, claimed that one of the fishermen had warned the party not to bathe there because of a steep slope where the water abruptly goes shallow but they disregarded his advice. (BBT, TPT)