Korean diver found dead in Camotes Island
CEBU CITY–The third Korean diver who went missing during last Sunday’s diving activity off Punta Engano, Lapu-Lapu City was found dead at 5:20 a.m. Wednesday on the shoreline of Barangay (village) Himensulan, San Francisco, Camotes Island.
Himensulan barangay captain Rene Maranga told dyLA radio station in Cebu City that the body of Heo Seung Yung, 45, was discovered by M Lhuiller resort caretaker Reynante Reyes.
The two fellow divers—Kim Eun, 31 and diving instructor Baek Seung Kyoon, 34—were found alive in the same area on Tuesday afternoon.
At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the female diver was discovered by a fisherman near the shoreline and was very weak. She was still wearing a wet suit and with at least 6 oxygen or air tanks. She had bruises in the face and a wound on the neck.
BACK STORY: Koreans missing hours after dive | Big waves slow down search for 3 Korean divers; dive shop closed
At 5 p.m., the guard of the resort owned by the Lhuiller family also spotted Baek, who was only wearing his underwear. Three oxygen/air tanks were still attached to his body. He had difficulty in breathing and was so weak. He also sustained wounds at the back of his knees and could hardly walk.
Maranga in an interview Wednesday morning, said Heo may have died Tuesday night and had they found him earlier in the afternoon with his fellow divers, he could have been alive.
Maranga said he actually told his tanods (village enforcers) to look for the 3rd missing Korean on Tuesday afternoon after the rescue of the two Koreans. But they failed to locate Heo and besides, they could not send boats to the sea because of rough waters.
Heo’s belongings including his suit and dive watch remained intact. Maranga said he noticed blood that spilled out from his left eye and ear.
Maranga said they called the police to recover and bring the body to a funeral home.
Maranga said they learned from the survivors that they went diving despite having no guide. When they ascended after their dives, they were battered with big waves and could no longer return to the resort in Punta Engano.
For three nights and two days, they braved the waves to stay afloat until they were drifted to San Francisco, which was around two-to-three-hour sea travel by Navy boat from Lapu-Lapu City.
In an interview earlier, San Francisco town information officer Gagal Maningo said the female Korean confided that Heo was still part of the group on daytime Tuesday. Heo reportedly complained that his legs were in pain and gave his oxygen tanks to Kim.
Meanwhile, the two Korean survivors were fetched by Navy vessel PG372 BRP Alfredo Peckson, which arrived at 11 p.m. on Tuesday. The families of the Koreans boarded the vessel.
On Wednesday morning, the vessel brought the two survivors back to Lapu-Lapu City and were expected to be brought to the University of Cebu Medical Center in Mandaue City. The two were first brought to the local hospital in San Francisco on Tuesday evening.
