Body of missing tourist found

CAGAYAN DE ORO – After three days of searching, divers found yesterday morning the body of a female tourist who had gone missing following a white water rafting accident in the village of Bayanga, in this city.

The body of Aizza Mae Calipusan Balbin, 26, was found in the area where the raft she was on flipped last Friday, June 13.

Chisum Factura of Kagay Journey-White Water Rafting and Kayaking had earlier said the victim, who is from Bohol, may have gotten entangled under boulders in a section of the river with strong undercurrents.

Authorities said Balbin’s remains will be brought to a funeral home in the city.

“We never expected it would happen to us, we were close to completing the entire course when our raft suddenly capsized. It felt like I was in a large washing machine, can’t see anything I thought I was about to die. It was so dark, but after a while I saw a light and then give it

my best to swim toward it,” said Patrick Agus, Balbin’s friend and raft companion.

Agus said it was Balbin’s first time to try white water rafting.

A representative of the family, Marjorie Balbin Paredes, arrived from Cebu City on Saturday and went directly to the accident site.

“She is a loving and cheerful daughter. She is a trusting friend and I cannot even paint a single negative characteristic of her. I am in state of shock, and I think her family in Bohol too,” Paredes said.

According to Paredes, Aizza does online work at home. But, she used to work as a nurse. “She works hard for her family since his dad is bedridden and her mom works in the government. She is also preparing to go to Australia for better career options,”