1 of 3 | Authorities urged all divers to “exercise heightened vigilance” in the area, especially in places known to have strong currents and active marine life. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard
Feb. 28 (UPI) — Two men from Russia have died after a strong current in the Philippines swept them out to sea, the country’s coast guard confirmed on Friday.
The bodies of the two men were found floating near Verde Island, one with both arms missing after an apparent shark attack, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement on its website.
The pair were part of a larger group of scuba divers.
Two other Russians and their Filipino guide managed to escape the current and swim to safety.
The group of tourists set out on the scuba trip Thursday from Puerto Galera on the Philippine island of Mindoro. The group did have several crew members and two master divers with them at the time, officials said.
Verde Island is a popular scuba diving destination in the Philippine province of Batangas.
The men were later identified as Ilia Peregudin and Maksim Melekhov. The two did not resurface with the rest of the group after getting swept away by a strong underwater current.
Authorities quickly mounted a search mission and located Melekhov floating in the water. The 39-year-old was alive at the time and rushed to hospital but later died.
Peregudin, 29, was dead when found by rescuers near the western tip of the island of Mindanao.
“His remains were found floating near the shoreline of Pulong Bato, with both arms missing due to an apparent shark attack. Multiple sharks were observed in the vicinity during the recovery,” the coast guard said in the statement.
In its statement, the coast guard urged all divers to “exercise heightened vigilance” in the area, especially in places known to have strong currents and active marine life.