Butuan City – The Caraga Police Regional Office (PRO13) through Tandag City Police Station disclosed Monday that, after being rescued by fishermen off the coast of Tandag City at the weekend, an Australian died of dehydration while two others survived floating adrift for six days.
“Three foreign nationals were rescued at around 10:00 in the morning of December 17, 2017 by fishermen on their way home in Tandag City. They said the foreigners claimed they had been adrift at sea for six days after their yacht foundered somewhere along the waters of Dinagat,” Police Chief Inspector Armando A. Martizano, officer-in-charge of Tandag CPS, said.
Martizano said the three foreign nationals were identified upon admission to hospital for treatment.
“They were immediately admitted to the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center at around 4:00 in the afternoon here in Tandag City and were identified as Anthony John Mahoney, 73 years old, a resident of Townsville, North Queensland, Australia; Lawrence Alered Mallea, 68 years old, single, a resident of Trinity Beach, Queensland, Australia and Lionec Peter Ansselin, 74 years old and married to a Filipina from La Union.
“Unfortunately Mahony did not make it and succumbed to severe dehydration by 10:00 Sunday evening,” said Martizano.
The report stated that the rescuing fishermen reported the three Australians were direly holding on to a buoy to keep them afloat on the water.
“The fishermen estimated that they rescued the foreigners about 50 miles from the coast of Tandag, roughly somewhere near Siargao.
“Our personnel in Tandag City have already contacted the wife of Ansselin, who is a resident of 403 Mulleas Compound, Baccuit Sur Bauang, La Union.
“The two who survived the ordeal are in stable condition, their relatives and families in Australia have also been contacted,” said Police Chief Inspector Renel Serrano, officer-in-charge PRO13.
The survivors claimed that they were traveling on a yacht from Australia headed toward Subic when the incident happened.