47-yr-old farmer dies in 9-meter-deep well in Tuao, Cagayan

San Mariano, Isabela - What started as a routine task to fix a water pump in the field turned tragic for a 47-year-old farmer in Tuao, Cagayan, on Wednesday night, September 17. 

The victim, identified as Jaynard Donato from Barangay Tana, Amulung, was a caretaker of a farm in Barangay Mambacag, Tuao. 

Local media source said police reported that it was around 8:00 p.m. that day when Donato descended a nine-meter-deep well to repair a clogged submerged pump used for irrigation. 

While inside the well, his co-worker said he noticed that Donato was having difficulty breathing. Minutes later, Donato collapsed while working at the three meters deep of water at the bottom of the well. 

The other farmer immediately notified authorities about the incident, who rushed to the well to pull Donato out.

The strong smell of gas inside the water source made the rescue operation dangerous and exhausting. It took more than an hour and a half before Donato’s body was finally retrieved.

Donato was rushed by the rescuers to a medical facility nearby. Despite efforts to save his life, he was declared dead. 

The medical examination revealed that the 47-year-old farmer died of suffocation caused by the toxic air inside the well.