A 44-year-old man drowned in the Pantal River in Dagupan City after he jumped into the water to retrieve a boot that had fallen into the river, police and relatives said.

The victim was identified as Randy Abraham Apostol of Barangay Pogo Chico. His relatives said a boot fell into the river at around 2 p.m. on August 13, 2026, and Apostol jumped into the water to retrieve it after seeing it drift away.

The boot belonged to one of his neigbors.

The strong current swept Apostol away and he did not resurface. His body was found floating in the river at around 1 p.m. on August 15, two days after the incident.

“Tumalon para kunin ang bota pero hindi na umahon, hindi na siya nakita,” Leo Suyan, the victim’s relative, said.

Police said they found no indication of foul play. Dagupan City Police Station 1 Commander PCpt. Christopher Agnote said the autopsy report also showed no signs of foul play.

“Noong nangyari ang incident normal naman sya and sa autopsy report wala namang foul play,” he said.

With the southwest monsoon, or habagat, bringing heavy rain and strong currents to rivers in the area, police urged the public to avoid swimming in rivers for their safety.

Agnote reminded residents to exercise caution as water levels remain high.

“Mag-ingat po tayo palagi kasi siyempre malakas ang ulan mataas ang tubig sa ilog,” he said.