3 missing divers found alive in Masbate

MANILA, Philippines – The three divers, who failed  to surface eight hours after they went down in the waters off Donsol town in Sorsogon, were found alive in Masbate Sunday evening, the police said on Monday.

Senior Superintendent Heriberto Olitoquit, Masbate police chief, said Autralian divers Lance and Nicole McDonald, as well as their Filipino dive guide Bobby Adrao, were able to go ashore off Halea Beach Resort along Sitio Mababoy in Barangay [village] guinhadap in Monreal, Masbate around 6 p.m. Sunday.

The divers were taken to San Jacinto District Hospital for medical check-up.

Major Angelo Guzman, public information officer of the Philippine Army based in Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur, said the three went diving at around 1 p.m. on Sunday but failed to return.

The brother of Adrao reported the disappearance of the three and requested for a search and rescue operation.

Originally posted at 09:13 am | Monday, Jan. 21, 2013