16-year-old Boy Scout saves man who drowned in Cotabato

A 16-year-old Boy Scout from Cotabato is being praised after successfully reviving a man who drowned by applying the lifesaving skills he learned through scouting.

According to Kuya Kim’s report in “24 Oras” on Friday, the incident happened at a resort in Kabacan, Cotabato, where a man drowned.

As bystanders panicked, the teenager, identified as Rexel Joaquin Mangliwan, quickly stepped in to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Despite some people telling him to stop and wait for medical responders, Rexel continued performing CPR after checking that the victim had no pulse and was not breathing.

After continuous chest compressions, the man regained consciousness and was rushed to the hospital.

“Four years po ako sa scouting sir, from Grade 7 to Grade 10,” Rexel shared.

According to Rexel, they had just arrived at the resort when the man drowned.

“Nakita ko po siyang walang malay at ‘yung mga mata niya po ay walang response. Ang duda po namin sir, nag-slide po siya. Ako po ay kinabahan kasi first time kasi ‘yun na incident after ko po mag-graduate ng ESTC,” he said.

“[Ang ESTC ay] Emergency Service Training Course ng Senior Scouts. Ito po 'yung pinakamataas na kayang salihan ng Senior Scouts po na training,” Rexel added.

Despite being nervous, Rexel immediately applied what he learned from his training.

“Every time po na may emergency, we need to compose ourselves. Sabi ko po sa kanila na dalhin mo muna siya sa safe na place para maka-assist tayo ng mabuti. So, nadala na po siya doon and then, after ko chineck 'yung pulse niya at saka breathing, wala po, 'di ba?” Rexel recalled.

“So, nag-initiate na po ako ng CPR. Three minutes ko po siyang sini-PR hanggang sa nagkamalay po siya. Nag-perform po kami ng two-man carry at sinugod po siya sa hospital. Sa awa po ng Diyos, okay na po siya ngayon,” he added.

For his heroic actions, Rexel was recognized by both their local government unit and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

“Nagpapasalamat po talaga ako sa pamilya ko na pinasalin nila ako sa ganun po na training. Dahil po sa training na 'yun ay nakatulong po ako na makasalba ng buhay,” he said. —Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA News