A 16-year-old boy drowned while his father remains missing after being swept away during a birthday celebration at Barangay Calay-ab, Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 PM on September 28, 2024.
The teenager was identified as a resident of Quezon City, while his father, Rowell Morondoz Paat, 37, is still the subject of an ongoing search.
According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Ilocos Sur spokesperson Ensign Jayvee Bilgera, their team received a report regarding the disappearance of the victims.
Rescuers immediately responded to the area, where they discovered the boy’s body.
He was quickly transported to Northside Doctors Hospital – Bantay but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
As of now, search efforts for the father have been temporarily halted due to strong winds and poor weather conditions.
Local authorities have coordinated with neighboring towns for additional patrols along the shoreline in hopes of finding him.
The two had gone to the beach to celebrate the boy’s birthday, but the day turned tragic when they were swept away by strong currents.