SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte — A 16-year-old Person with Disability (PWD) was rescued and revived by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel after reportedly drowning in Barangay Taft, Surigao City, on September 4, 2026.
The lifesaving response was carried out by Apprentice Seaman (ASN) Rheyson Maestro PCG, who was aboard MV News MPC 2 conducting a Pre-Departure Inspection (PDI) when he received information about a drowning incident involving a teenager.
Upon receiving the report, Maestro immediately proceeded to the area to assist the victim and carry out the appropriate emergency response.
When he arrived, the unidentified female victim had already been brought to a safe location by bystanders. One of the bystanders was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an attempt to revive the teenager.
Maestro immediately took over the resuscitation effort and performed approximately 100 chest compressions. Following the intervention, the victim regained consciousness. She was then placed in the recovery position while awaiting the arrival of additional emergency responders.
The Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Surigao City subsequently arrived and coordinated with the Coast Guard Special Operations Group-Northeastern Mindanao (CGSOG-NEM) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) of Surigao City.
The victim was eventually turned over to the Quick Action Response Team (QART) of the City of Surigao Rescue, which provided first aid and facilitated her immediate transport to Caraga Regional Hospital for further medical evaluation and treatment.
The victim was reportedly in stable condition when she was transported to the hospital for definitive medical care.
The incident highlighted the importance of rapid intervention during water-related emergencies, particularly when a victim is found unresponsive or showing signs of drowning. The immediate actions of bystanders, followed by the intervention of trained Coast Guard personnel and the coordinated response of local emergency teams, proved critical in providing the teenager with timely assistance.
The PCG said the response also demonstrates its continuing commitment to the Intensified Community Assistance, Awareness, Response, and Enforcement (iCARE) Program, which seeks to strengthen the Coast Guard’s capacity to provide timely assistance and emergency response in coastal communities and other areas where its personnel operate.
A key component of the program is the training of PCG frontline personnel in Basic Life Support (BLS), including the proper administration of CPR, through the Coast Guard Nursing Service (CGNS).
The Surigao City incident underscores how such training can become crucial in real-life emergencies, where immediate CPR and early medical intervention can help sustain a victim while professional medical assistance is being mobilized.
Beyond its maritime law enforcement and safety functions, the PCG’s response demonstrated the broader role of its personnel as frontline responders capable of providing emergency assistance when lives are at risk.
For the 16-year-old victim, the sequence of rapid actions—from the initial assistance provided by a bystander to the CPR performed by the Coast Guard and the subsequent coordination with city emergency responders—helped ensure that she received urgent care before being brought to a medical facility.