Boracay swimmers are ‘endangered species’

The first time I went to Boracay was in 1985. Though it was very nice then because there were few people, I don’t suffer from false nostalgia because, I must admit, it’s good to have running water and electricity on the island.

On March 29, 2010, the propeller of a motorized pump boat mangled my left foot and part of my leg while I was swimming near Station 1. Thank God, my mother was able to borrow a helicopter from the heirs of Chito Madrigal Collantes (to whom I will be forever grateful for saving my leg) and I was flown to the Makati Medical Center where I underwent two major surgeries.

After four nails were inserted in my foot to keep it together and many months of painful recovery on crutches, I am swimming again, but now always accompanied by a “bodyguard” on a rowboat armed with a whistle to act as a beacon for my safety.

Today, motorized boats continue to regularly cruise at full speed near the shore with complete impunity, endangering the lives of bathers, causing noise pollution with their stinking, smoky, decrepit diesel engines and the destruction of corals with their anchors.

I have written letters to the Boracay Coast Guard and the Office of the Mayor, and though there has been a slight improvement, during last year’s Holy Week another swimmer got run over on the head.

I am afraid that until pump boats are totally banned from White Beach, all swimmers in Boracay will be on the “endangered species” list.

—FREDDY PANICUCCI,

2305 Marconi St.,

San Isidro, Makati City