TRAGIC DROWNING in Ilagan, Isabela: TWO girls survived to tell the tale; TWO others did not make it

Ilagan, Isabela – Two 10-year-old girls died, while their companions were rescued after they drowned while swimming along the Cagayan River in Barangay Santa Isabel, Ilagan, Isabela, on Saturday, March 28.

According to an initial police report obtained by XFM-Santiago, the four children, all residents of the barangay, went to the river that afternoon to bathe.

While at the river, the water current reportedly changed, suddenly becoming strong. The girls were pulled then toward a deeper portion.

A nearby resident noticed the children struggling and rushed to help. Braving the strong current, the resident managed to pull two of them out of the water, saving their lives.

Tragically, the two 10-year-old girls could not be saved in time. Upon receiving the report, authorities immediately conducted a search and retrieval operation.

After more than an hour, the bodies were recovered, but they were already lifeless. The grieving families declined to have the bodies undergo an autopsy.

Following the incident, Ilagan Police Station Chief of Police PLTCOL Jeffrey D. Raposas reminded parents to supervise their children at all times and to avoid allowing them to swim in rivers without adult guidance.