PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- A British national died from drowning early Tuesday afternoon off the waters at Sitio Duli, Barangay Bucana, El Nido in northern Palawan.
El Nido Municipal Police Station (MPS) Chief Inspector Lodell Lota said, the victim was identified as 27-year-old Kevin Bui, single, who was billeted at Bamboo Billabong Lodge in Barangay Buena Suerte.
Municipal police investigators, who were sent to Barangay Bucana to probe the incident, estimated that the victim drowned around 2 p.m. while swimming with a friend, identified as 22-year old Alina Fritz, a German national.
Fritz told the police that after swimming to a distance of about 40 meters from the shoreline, she and Bui experienced sudden strong waves and rip currents.
She said she yelled at the victim to get his attention and to tell him they needed to go back. But Bui failed to swim back after struggling against the rip currents for an estimated 20 minutes.
A group of lifeguards who went to his rescue discovered him floating and unconscious. Fritz said they brought him to the shore to revive him, but there was no response.
He was brought to the El Nido rural health unit (RHU), where he was declared dead by attending physician, Dr. Marian Relucio at 4 p.m. (PNA)