Jet skier rescued off Batangas after 27 hours

A jet skier spent 27 hours floating at sea when his watercraft malfunctioned during a family outing in Anilao, Batangas, last May 1, a report on “24 Oras” said Monday.

Timothy Condino, a rescue diver for 10 years and who came from a family of scuba divers and swimmers, did not bring a life vest with him when he went jet skiing alone on that day, the report said.

The report said Condino's ordeal started about 3 p.m. when his watercraft malfunctioned while he was in the middle of the ocean, prompting him to jump out of it and swim to the nearest island.

“Pagtalon ko, sobrang lakas ng current. Paglingon ko sa likod ko, the jet ski that I was riding, biglang malayo na siya agad,” he said.

Night came, and Condino found himself floating in the darkness, hungry and freezing and with no assurance that he will be rescued.

The report said during this time, Condino felt a snake wrapped itself around his leg. For sustenance, he ate a mango he found floating in the water.

“May nakita akong mangga na half okay pa, yung isa bulok na, may uod or something. Kinain ko sya para lang for me to be able to survive,” he said.

Condino said by this time he was already resigned to dying.

“Sabi ko talagang I think it's time for me to die. Talagang ang hirap po nung sitwasyon na 'yon, 'yung mag-isa magdamag at sobrang lamig ng tubig,” he said.

But, after 27 hours, a miracle happened — a passing cargo ship spotted Condino.

“Nung narinig ko yung boses niya, sabi ko, thank you Lord, thank you, God, thank you, Mama Mary for bringing him back to me. 'Yun 'yung miracle namin, it's a miracle,” said Tina Cardines, Condino's mother, in the same report.

The report said Condino learned two lessons from the incident — to always believe in God, and to always bring a life vest when going jet skiing.  —KBK, GMA News