Coast Guard: Jetski riders rescue passengers of capsized boat in Roxas City

Published December 6, 2010 12:12pm

Contestants of a jet ski tilt in Western Visayas became instant heroes last weekend after rescuing five spectators whose speedboat capsized due to big waves. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday the incident occurred at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, some 250 meters off La Playa de Roxas City. "(The speedboat) with five persons onboard departed Barangay Dumolog, Roxas City to witness the said Jet Ski competition but due to big waves, said speed boat was flooded with water causing it to capsize at said vicinity," the PCG said on its website on Monday. "Immediately, the victims onboard the capsized speed boat were rescued by the participating Jet Ski Riders of the said competition," the PCG added. Citing belated reports from the Coast Guard station in Roxas City, the PCG identified the rescued spectators as:

Dante Esabon, 41, of Roxas City;

Atty. Blas Nolasco, 41, of Roxas City;

Tristan Nolasco, 12, of Roxas City;

Mark Balconcha, 28, of Roxas City; and

Henry Salonga, 58, of Roxas City. The survivors were turned over to their respective families in good physical condition, the PCG said. The investigation showed that the five were aboard a speedboat with a 50-horsepower outboard motor capsized after encountering big waves. Personnel from the PCG Roxas station rushed to the site aboard a rubber boat, and brought the rescued victims to the nearest shoreline. The Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary recovered the speedboat at 1:08 p.m. the same day after the watercraft drifted to shallow waters. â€“ VVP, GMANews.TV

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