A Korean national drowned while on holiday in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, Thursday afternoon.

Police identified the fatality only as “Mr. Kim,” who was 65 years old and temporarily residing in Dauin, Negros Oriental.

Based on a report by Manjuyod municipal police yesterday morning, Kim, along with eight other Korean nationals, arrived around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday and rented a cottage on a white sand bar.

The group swam for about an hour and a half, and upon returning to the cottage, the tour guides noticed Kim was missing.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and rescue workers from the Manjuyod municipal government conducted a search and rescue operation and found Kim floating in the water around 1:30 p.m.

Authorities tried to revive the victim while on their way to the Bais City District Hospital, however, he was declared dead on arrival by hospital staff./DGB, WDJ