A diving trip involving four Russian tourists who were on vacation in the Philippines has ended in tragedy. Two of them have died after being swept away by strong currents while diving in waters south of Manila, reports AP. It is believed that one of them drowned and the other was attacked by sharks, said an official from the Philippine Coast Guard.
Two other Russian tourists managed to safely return to the boat they were on Thursday near Verde Island, a popular diving destination in the province of Batangas, according to the provincial commander of the Philippine Coast Guard, Captain Airland Lapitan.
The four Russian tourists traveled by boat to the waters off Verde Island from the nearby town of Puerto Galera, in the province of Oriental Mindoro, with a Filipino diving instructor. All five were swept away by strong currents while underwater, Lapitan said.
Two of the Russians managed to surface along with the instructor, but the other two tourists, identified as Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, disappeared. The instructor and other divers in the area, along with Philippine Coast Guard personnel, immediately began a search, according to Lapitan.
Melekhov was found unconscious an hour later and was pronounced dead at a hospital in Batangas.
"The other Russian diver was found being attacked by sharks. Unfortunately, his right arm had been severed and the sharks were swimming around him," Lapitan commented. "They somehow managed to rescue him."
Authorities have already initiated an investigation, and the Coast Guard will meet with provincial officials to discuss ways to prevent such incidents on Verde Island and other popular diving destinations, Lapitan said.