8 dragon boat paddlers die in Boracay accident
EIGHT paddlers of the Boracay Dragon Boat Team died, while 14 others were injured when the boat they were rowing capsized in Boracay Island on Wednesday, September 25.
Capt. Armand Balilo said the boat was swamped by huge waves at 7:45 a.m. off Bulabog Beach in Sitio Lingganay.
The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation Team (PDBFT) identified the fatalities as Johann Tan, Rachel Montoya, Antonette Supranes, Maricel Tan, Comar Arcob, Mark Vincent Navarrete, John Vincent Natividad and Von Navarossa, the team leader.
Balilo said there were 21 paddlers on the
boat, who were training for an international competition.
The rescued team members were brought to the Saint Gabriel Hospital in Boracay.
“This is sad news for our dragon boat family. The PDBFT, along with its club team members, joins the Boracay dragon boat community in praying for the eternal repose of the souls of the departed dragon boat paddlers and for the immediate recuperation of those injured in the dragon boat accident this morning,” the group said in a statement it posted on Facebook.
A report from the municipal town of Malay said the sea was calm when the team assembled to practice at the Bulabog Beach at 6: 30 a. m. The paddlers boarded their boat at 7: 15 a. m.
“After the reef, rough waves gradually filled the boat with water — 200 to 300 meters off Lingganay Resort, the report said.
It added that none of the victims had life vests.
“The victims were not wearing life vests during the incident and one of the identified victims does not know how to swim,” the report said.
The survivors were identified as Yhen Aytona, Mark Baccay, Kenneth Bandalan, Jao Buenaventura, Julia Kurbanizova, Robel Licerio, Janbice Lumbo, Lani Ordas, Edwin Paradas, Marc Sabado, Kathleen Sabado, Jayrold Violanda and Maggie Xie.
The PDBFT called on paddlers to take measures to en
sure their safety.
“We encourage the use of personal flotation device during training and require wearing the same in local regattas to make sure that we avoid incidents that lead to unnecessary loss of lives or injuries. We also educate our member clubs proper safety protocols in case of capsizing or sinking of boats,” it said.
Philippine Olympic Committee ( POC) President Abraham Tolentino said the group would give financial assistance to the families of the victims.
Tolentino said he instructed his staff to send P20,000 to the relatives of each of the victims.
“We already sent P10,000 from the POC and another P10,000 from my own pocket to the victims,” the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines president told reporters.