A 53-year-old man in General Santos City who was allegedly hunting for treasure died in the 40-foot-deep pit he had dug right inside his house.

According to his wife, the man took very seriously the claim of a local traditional healer that there is gold buried beneath their house in Barangay Olympog.

She said she tried to convince her husband against digging because doing so would be illegal but he reportedly would not budge.

“Tiguwang nga manambalay daw to siya, wala ko kabalo nga mao ilang sabot nga naay bulawan diya sa kwatro. Gibadlong nako, ingon ko ayaw ana bawal na siya. Ingon man na siya, sir, ayaw panghilabot kay dili man ako maningkamot, siya man,” the wife said.

The wife added that her husband was climbing out of the pit when he reportedly lost his strength all of a sudden and had a hard time breathing.

“Pasaka na niya sir, nanawag na siya sa akong anak, pisi ra lagi ang gamit ana niya sir; niduol ang iyang anak, unsaon nagpatihulog naman siya murag nakuhaan og kusug kay pwerteng bug-ata , dili na makaya, sa ubos pa siya, sir,” the victim’s wife said.

Rescuers responded immediately and pulled the victim out of the hole, and tried to revive him. They rushed him to the hospital but he did not make it there alive.

“Lalom man gud to, mga 40 ft ang gilawmon gyud. Ngitngit na siya pag flashlight-an nimo. Sa ilalom ang flashlight medyo hanap na. Gi-revive naman nila, pero ang doctor na ang ga-declare nga patay,” Barangay Staff member and Peace and Order Focal Person, Eunice Castillo, said.

Police said the victim died of probable massive intrathoracic hemorrhage secondary to chest trauma from a fall.

Authorities have monitored the area to ensure no other residents are engaged in unauthorized digging activities.

“Akong gipahugtan ang pag-monitor sa mga palibot kay basi’g dili lang kana ang maong naay nag-bangag-bangag sa barangay,” Barangay Chairman Rey Cardeño, Sr. said.

The local government reminded the public that treasure hunting without proper permits is prohibited.

“Kana bawal gyud na kay prior mag-treasure hunting, gikinahanglan gyud dunay basbas sa atong president, sa atong DENR, kinahanglan naa permits,” Cardeño added.

Investigation into the incident continues.