A 72-year-old man drowned at a beach resort in General Santos City.

The man was rescued and carried to shore at past 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 7, 2025. Lifeguards administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before rushing him to a hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.

According to the family, the man was a traditional healer.

“Mao nay finding sa doctor, drowning,” the man’s wife, Norma Orot, said.

The man’s wife added that they had gone to the beach to swim. Prior to the incident, the man initially refused to swim despite being invited by his children.

Without his children’s knowledge, he reportedly followed them into the water.

“Una-una unya ra ko ligo kay init kaayo. Unya mura’g na-enganyo sa anak didto nangaligo, niapas, wala naman intawn nakabalik,” the wife said.

One of his children, Reynante, said they thought initially that the person who drowned was someone else.

“Duha-duha man gud akong huna-huna kay paglakaw nako naa pa man siya sa cottage, unya wala ra may 20… Wala nako siya gihilabtan pero pagkita naku, na confirm naku siya  gayud mato tung gihayang nako siya , pagkahuman, gialsa naku siya ug miabot ang lifeguard,” he said.

The family suspects the victim may not have been feeling well at that time.

“Init kaayo mura’g ing-ani sa panahon, mibaktas man gud siya og layo layo man ang cottage namu.  Istorya pud sa akung manghud kung mag istorya nya siya  dugay murag kutasan siya ba  muhanggap siya og hangin,” Reynante said.