Drowning incident in Palawan

Last September, I wrote about a drowning incident at a resort in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. A group of vacationists staying at the resort went swimming but was carried away by a strong undertow. One of them, a mother, Ma. Cecily de Guzman, drowned. She is a member of a family of doctors. On the way to the hospital 80 kilometers away, three of her doctor-relatives tried to revive her, but she was declared dead in the hospital.

The family sued the resort for negligence—not having a lifeguard on duty, not having life-saving equipment in the ambulance, and not having warning signs about the undertow in the resort.

Recently, I received a letter from the owners of the resort, Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa, explaining their side and disowning responsibility.

In the interest of fair play, I am quoting portions of that letter here:

“On Dec. 23, 2010, after breakfast, Ms. de Guzman and her family decided to go for a swim on the beach which is about 30 meters away from the resort’s restaurant. They were informed by our lifeguard and by a roving guard that the current was strong that day. However, they proceeded towards the beach saying that they would stay close to the shore. There were also signs posted by the local government that (were) impossible to be missed or noticed, warning about the strong undertow, currents, and about swimming after six in the evening.

“In Sabang Beach, the waves closer to the shore are rougher than farther out. While Ms. de Guzman stayed ashore, her group floated in the surf. The current brought them out than they had intended to go. The problem with undertow and rip currents is that people naturally panic and exhaust themselves, making drowning a very real possibility.

“When Ms. de Guzman heard the cries for help, she dove into the water despite not being a strong swimmer herself and tried to rescue her family members. Fighting against the current, she exhausted herself and nearly drowned, but was pulled on board by a local boatman and had first aid administered to her by the lifeguard on duty.

“As the boat neared the wharf, the resort’s resident nurse noticed Ms. de Guzman’s shallow breathing and faint pulse. To remedy this, she removed the vomit obstructing Ms. de Guzman’s airway and continued to administer CPR. However, she was asked to step aside as members of Ms. de Guzman’s family were doctors themselves. In the meantime, the resort personnel had sent for an ambulance which arrived shortly thereafter.

“Our resort is located 80 (kilometers) from the nearest hospital, and the journey takes about an hour and a half by land. Despite the efforts of the paramedics, Ms. de Guzman was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

“While all of us at the Sheridan deeply regret and mourn the death of Ms. de Guzman, we are simply at a  loss on how to treat the demand, three months after the incident, of her sister, Dr. Corina Azores-Macalintal, for us to pay P15 million to the family. To us, this is rather baffling as the family had repeatedly expressed gratitude for all the support and help we had extended. Very clearly, we were not wanting in providing the necessary warnings and assistance.

“We are not heartless and unreasonable. But we are truly surprised by the course of action taken by Dr. Azores-Macalintal (in putting) a price on her sister’s life and makes us out to be a villainous lot.

“Jacqueline Tan

“Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa.”

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This unfortunate incident at the Sheridan Beach Resort has happened many times before in other places in the Philippines. And it will happen again. My own nephew drowned at a beach resort in Bataan while swimming only a few meters from the shore.  He was carried away by a strong undertow. Like Ms De Guzman, he was pulled into a banca by boatmen but doctors at a hospital were unable to revive him.

There are many beaches in the Philippines with strong undercurrents and the government, national and local, are deficient in warning people about them. Go anywhere in the Philippines and you will find many inviting beaches with white sand, calm surf, swaying palms, blue sky and soft breezes. But under this inviting exterior may be hiding treacherous currents that can pull the unwary swimmer out to sea. Beaches facing the open sea are especially treacherous when the tide is going out. The tide is rushing away from shore although you cannot see it. This tide can pull you out to sea before you realize it. My advice is not to go swimming in the sea, even if only a few meters from shore, when the tide is going out.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism and local government units, and especially the owners of beach resorts, should take special pains to see to it that vacationists are properly warned about, and understand, the dangers. They should have lifeguards and boatmen on standby at all times. When the undertow is strong, beaches should be closed.

We can’t expect beach resort owners to do this faithfully at all times because it costs money, so the DOT and the LGUs should see to it that the rules are followed.

We can avoid many tragedies and save many lives, as well as many families from grief, by being more vigilant, more careful and more caring.