PCG personnel save woman who fell from Manila bridge

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued a woman after she accidentally fell from a bridge in Manila, according to Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday.

A video showed the coast guard personnel talking to the victim, whohad gone to the edge of the Binondo-Intramuros bridge before losing her footing and falling into the Pasig River.

PCG Petty Officer Second Class Ray Eric Agad immediately jumped in to save her. The PCG Baywatch Patrol Group and the Bureau of Fire Protection also responded to the incident, and the victim was taken to the hospital.

“Nilangoy ko siya sir, dinala ko sa gilid…May malay siya, magsagot man siya, sabi ko, ‘relax lang dalhin kita sa gilid, nag-response siya,’” Agad said.

(I swam and saved her. She was conscious and was answering me. I told her ‘Relax, I will bring you to the riverbank. She responded.)

Agad added he was on his morning jog when he saw the situation.

“Mayroon kasi tayong dalawang klase ng [rescue operation] approach sa nalulunod, ito ang non-contact rescue technique at ang pangalawa contact rescue technique,” said CGSOF Commander Edgardo Hernando.

(We have two kinds of rescue operations for those drowning: the non-contact rescue and contact rescue technique.)

“Ang contact rescue technique naman ay kinakailang lapitan ang biktima at i-apply ang life saving techniques para maiwasan ang pagkalunod nito,” he added.

(Under the contact rescue technique, you have to approach the victim and apply life saving techniques to prevent them from drowning.)

The coast guard said it is still investigating the reason the victim climbed the bridge. It also urged the national government and the local government of Manila to put up railings on the infrastructure to ensure the safety of passersby.

Meanwhile, a man was rescued in San Jose, Antique when he fell from the third floor of a passenger vessel en route from Cuyo, Palawan to Iloilo City. He was also brought to the hospital. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News