A 40-year-old fisherman from General Santos City died after surviving for several hours adrift in the waters off Mati following a fire that engulfed his small fishing boat, locally known as a “pakura.”
The victim, identified only as alias “Orvie,” was a resident of Purok Malok, Barangay Labangal in General Santos City.
According to initial accounts from fellow fishermen, the incident occurred at around 6 p.m. while the victim was onboard his fishing vessel in the waters near Mati. Reports said the engine of the pakura suddenly malfunctioned and caught fire, causing the boat to be rapidly engulfed in flames.
In an attempt to stop the blaze from spreading, Orvie allegedly overturned the boat. However, the move also made it difficult for his companions to immediately locate him in the dark waters.
It was only around 9 a.m. the following day when fellow fishermen finally found him floating in the sea while tightly clinging to a buoy.
Witnesses said the victim had already sustained multiple injuries on his hands and body. His companions suspected that some of the wounds may have been caused by fish or other marine creatures while he drifted helplessly in the open sea overnight.
Despite being rescued alive, Orvie was reportedly already in critical condition when he was brought aboard a fishing vessel heading back to General Santos City.
His brother, alias “Danilo,” who was also among the fishermen onboard the same vessel, recounted the victim’s final moments. According to him, Orvie was still able to speak and tell him that he could no longer endure the pain and feared he might die.
As they journeyed back to shore, the victim’s condition gradually worsened until he eventually stopped breathing before they could reach land.
The tragic incident highlights the dangers regularly faced by fishermen who spend long hours at sea, often exposed to unpredictable mechanical failures and harsh maritime conditions. Authorities have yet to release further details regarding the incident, while fellow fishermen and residents mourn the loss of one of their own.