21-year-old army recruit dies of heat exhaustion in Isabela

The Philippine Army on Satuday identified the candidate soldier who died of heat exhaustion in Isabela province as recruit Julius Hernando.

According to Army spokesperson Captain Jefferson Somera, Hernando passed out on Thursday afternoon after joining a ceremony at the 5th Division Training School in Gamu, Isabela.

The ceremony started around 10 a.m. and ended around 12:30 p.m.

Camp Melchor F Dela Cruz Station Hospital (CMFDC) commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Ignacio Timbol added that Hernando was brought to the CMFDC where emergency medical procedures were performed.

Hernando had a seizure episode with declining vital signs at around 5 p.m. and was transferred to the Ilagan Doctors General Hospital (IDGH).

He was pronounced dead Friday morning at around 4:30 a.m., having succumbed to heatstroke despite the efforts to resuscitate him.

Major General Perfecto Rimando, the 5ID's commander, was "deeply saddened" by Hernando's death.

"The whole Star troopers sympathize with the family of CS Hernando for his untimely death. He will be given all the necessary support and assistance from the 5th Infantry Division," Rimando said.

Somera added that an appointment order dated June 5, 2018 certified Hernando as a bona fide serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News