Missing fisher rescued off Limasawa after boat engine fails

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — A 31-year-old fisher from Maasin City, Southern Leyte was rescued on Wednesday, Sept.30,  after his pump boat suffered engine failure while he was fishing in the waters off Limasawa Island, authorities said.

The fisher, a resident of Barangay Combado, had been out of communication with his family for more than 12 hours when the Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGS)–Southern Leyte and the Maasin City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) launched a search and rescue operation at around 9 a.m.

The fisher was located at about 10:30 a.m. by another fisher from Macrohon, Southern Leyte, who found him in the waters off Limasawa.

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He was found dehydrated but otherwise in good condition, according to the rescuers.

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Authorities said the fisher’s pump boat, described as white and red, bearing a Greenland flag and marked “BETH,” had been last known to be operating near the waters of Loay, Bohol.

The CGS–Southern Leyte and CDRRMO Water Search and Rescue teams immediately deployed CDRRMO water assets after receiving the report and proceeded toward the fisherman’s last known location.

The search operation was coordinated with CGS–Bohol, local fishers, and neighboring local government units in the area.

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Authorities later determined that the fisher’s boat had suffered engine failure, leaving him unable to return to shore on his own.

The boat was safely towed to shore in Macrohon, while the rescued fisher was brought back to Maasin City, where he was reunited with his family.

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CDRRMO responders conducted an initial physical assessment and found that he did not require further medical assistance. /cb