Two tourists were reportedly killed by sharks in the Philippines after getting swept away by an undercurrent at a popular diving location.
Two divers, Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, both from Russia, were diving in an area near Verde Island known for its rich marine biodiversity and coral reefs. Unfortunately, the divers found themselves in a dangerous situation on Thursday when they were swept away by a strong current towards a group of hungry sharks that had surfaced in the vicinity, as reported by Viral Press.
According to Philippine Coast Guard Captain Airland Lapitan, the group of divers got separated due to the swift current. While two divers managed to make it back to their boat safely with the master diver, the other two were unable to resurface. The rescue operation proved to be challenging, with one of the divers being difficult to recover due to sharks that were circling around them.
Captain Lapitan stated, “We suspect that the missing diver may have been attacked by the sharks, as their right hand was found to be missing.” The grim incident highlights the dangers that divers may face when exploring the ocean, particularly in areas where there is a presence of marine predators. The search for the missing diver continues as authorities work to piece together the details of the unfortunate event.
Schools of fish are seen near Verde Island in the Philippines in the area where the fatal shark attack happened. (Viral Press)
“Everything was very overwhelming and traumatizing. We personally experienced that there were strong currents left and right and also strong waves at the surface,” local resident Diego Reyes, who said he dived with the Russian tourists, told Viral Press.
“It was really challenging to get back with the group once you got separated. I hope authorities would be able to figure out what really happened to them. Thank you Lord for keeping our group safe. Rest in peace to the Russian divers,” he added.
Divers are seen near Verde Island in the Philippines on Thursday, Feb. 27. (Viral Press)
An investigation into the attack is ongoing.
