Police have confirmed that a 74-year-old man died a few hours after he was reportedly attacked by a needlefish, known locally as balo, while swimming at a beach resort in Naawan, Misamis Oriental.

Police said the man and his family went to the resort on December 13.

Later, police received information from the resort that an incident occurred, prompting them to respond.

Based on investigation, the man sustained a lacerated wound in his arm and was brought to a hospital in Iligan City for treatment.

However, the man died of cardiac arrest in the evening.

“Based sa information nga gihatag sa pamilya ngadot sa resort nga ang gikamatyan is cardiac arrest,” Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) Spokesperson, Major Joan Navarro said.

In a statement, the resort management said the incident was sudden and unexpected.

“It is important to emphasize that this was an act of God involving a wild marine animal in its natural habitat – an event that no one could have anticipated or wished to happen,” the management said.

The management said that their lifeguards on duty responded without delay upon noticing the incident.

It added that the lifeguards assisted the guest and administered first aid before the man was transported to the hospital.

The management maintained that the safety, dignity, and well-being of their guests remain the resort’s highest priority.

“Our staff acted swiftly, responsibly, and with genuine compassion throughout the incident. While the open sea is a natural environment beyond the resort’s direct control, our team remained proactive and fully engaged in providing assistance and coordination at every step,” the management said.

The management said it has cooperated with authorities in the investigation.

Personnel of the Naawan Tourism Office also conducted a surprise inspection at the resort on Wednesday, December 17.

“The Naawan Tourism Office is dedicated to helping ensure the safety and well-being of both residents and tourists, and we are committed to working closely with tourism stakeholders to address concerns, promote transparency, and uphold responsible tourism practices in Naawan,” the Naawan Tourism Office said.

(With reports from James Paolo Yap, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao)