Latest news with #Lapitan
Express Tribune
28-02-2025
- Express Tribune
Brutal shark attack and strong currents claim lives of two Russian divers in the Philippines
In a harrowing incident off the coast of Batangas, Philippines, two Russian tourists met tragic ends during a diving expedition. Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, were part of a group that was swept away by strong undercurrents while diving near Verde Island—a popular spot known for its vibrant marine life. The coast guard reported that while two divers and their Filipino instructor managed to return safely, Peregudin and Melekhov were less fortunate. Coast guard district chief Airland Lapitan disclosed the grim details of the search and rescue operation. "The first man was found floating in the water and unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital," Lapitan stated. The second man's fate was even more dire; he was discovered amidst a brutal shark attack. "It took rescuers over half an hour to free him from the sharks. Tragically, he lost his right arm and sustained severe injuries," Lapitan added. Members of Coast Guard Batangas recover the bodies of two Russian nationals after they died during a diving session near Verde Island, Batangas City on Thursday. According to reports, one of the victims was immediately brought to St. Patrick Hospital in Batangas City but was… — The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) February 28, 2025 Despite valiant efforts to save him, the severity of the injuries proved too great. The local authorities noted, "The bodies were recovered and have been turned over to their families." An investigation has been launched to understand the full circumstances of the tragedy and to discuss preventative measures for future divers in the region. Shark attacks are notably rare in the Philippines, with this being the first such incident recorded in over a year. This tragedy has prompted local officials to reevaluate safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Divers found dead, one in the jaws of a shark, near popular scuba spot
Two Russian divers were found dead, one in the jaws of a shark, after a strong current separated them from their group in a popular Philippine scuba spot, a coast guard official said Friday. Four Russians -- 57-year-old Eduart Perigudin, his two sons Timofy and Ilya, aged 18 and 29, and another man -- were diving near the Batangas resort area on the main island of Luzon Thursday afternoon when they and their dive master were pulled apart by an underwater current, district coast guard chief Airland Lapitan told AFP. Ilya Perigudin was missing both arms when he was pulled dead from waters in which multiple sharks were seen, according to a coast guard statement. "His remains were found floating near the shoreline... with both arms missing due to an apparent shark attack. Multiple sharks were observed in the vicinity during the recovery," the statement said. Lapitan had earlier told AFP the 29-year-old "was being pulled by a shark" when rescuers located him in the late afternoon. But it was unclear if he had been killed by a shark or was already dead, Lapitan said, adding that the bodies had been turned over to family members without an autopsy. The second victim, identified as M. Melekhov by Moscow's TASS news agency citing the Russian embassy, was found about an hour earlier and declared dead on arrival after being transported to a local hospital. Eduart Perigudin, his younger son Timofy and their dive master were able to surface and make it back to the boat, Lapitan said. The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. After the incident, the Philippines coast guard said in a statement that divers and dive operators should "exercise heightened vigilance and adhere to strict safety protocols, particularly in areas with strong currents and active marine life." Shark attacks in the waters around the Philippines are exceedingly rare, with none recorded in at least a year, according to a global database. Shark attacks — particularly deadly ones — dropped substantially last year around the world, according to a recent report by the International Shark Attack File, Of 88 alleged shark-human interactions that researchers say they investigated last year, 71 bites were confirmed. The report segmented those incidents into unprovoked and provokes bites, of which there were 47 and 24, respectively. Seven of the attacks were fatal, including four unprovoked attacks, according to the research. Sneak peek: The People v. Kouri Richins California neighborhood is slowly sliding toward the ocean Old-Fashioned Beef Stew
CBS News
28-02-2025
- CBS News
Russian divers found dead, one in the jaws of a shark, near popular Philippines resort
Two Russian divers were found dead, one in the jaws of a shark, after a strong current separated them from their group in a popular Philippine scuba spot, a coast guard official said Friday. Four Russians -- 57-year-old Eduart Perigudin, his two sons Timofy and Ilya, aged 18 and 29, and another man -- were diving near the Batangas resort area on the main island of Luzon Thursday afternoon when they and their dive master were pulled apart by an underwater current, district coast guard chief Airland Lapitan told AFP. Ilya Perigudin was missing both arms when he was pulled dead from waters in which multiple sharks were seen, according to a coast guard statement. "His remains were found floating near the shoreline... with both arms missing due to an apparent shark attack. Multiple sharks were observed in the vicinity during the recovery," the statement said. Lapitan had earlier told AFP the 29-year-old "was being pulled by a shark" when rescuers located him in the late afternoon. But it was unclear if he had been killed by a shark or was already dead, Lapitan said, adding that the bodies had been turned over to family members without an autopsy. The second victim, identified as M. Melekhov by Moscow's TASS news agency citing the Russian embassy, was found about an hour earlier and declared dead on arrival after being transported to a local hospital. Eduart Perigudin, his younger son Timofy and their dive master were able to surface and make it back to the boat, Lapitan said. The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. After the incident, the Philippines coast guard said in a statement that divers and dive operators should "exercise heightened vigilance and adhere to strict safety protocols, particularly in areas with strong currents and active marine life." Shark attacks in the waters around the Philippines are exceedingly rare, with none recorded in at least a year, according to a global database. Shark attacks — particularly deadly ones — dropped substantially last year around the world, according to a recent report by the International Shark Attack File, Of 88 alleged shark-human interactions that researchers say they investigated last year, 71 bites were confirmed. The report segmented those incidents into unprovoked and provokes bites, of which there were 47 and 24, respectively. Seven of the attacks were fatal, including four unprovoked attacks, according to the research.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Russian tourist killed by shark in scuba diving incident
Two Russian tourists have died in the Philippines after a scuba diving trip ended with one of them drowning and the other being attacked by sharks. The divers, named locally as Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, were found dead after a strong current separated them from their group in a popular Philippine scuba spot. Mr Melekhov is believed to have drowned and Mr Peregudin is thought to have been attacked by sharks. His right arm was missing when he was found by search and rescue teams. Two other Russian tourists managed to swim back safely to their dive boat off Verde Island, in the province of Batangas, the Philippine coast guard provincial commander Capt Airland Lapitan said. The dive instructor and other divers in the area, along with Philippine coast guard personnel, immediately launched a search, according to Mr Lapitan. Mr Melekhov was found unconscious at sea an hour later and was declared dead by doctors in a Batangas hospital, he said. 'The other Russian diver was found while being attacked by sharks. His right arm, unfortunately, had been severed and the sharks were moving around him,' Mr Lapitan told The Associated Press. 'They somehow managed to pull him away.' An investigation is underway and the coast guard will meet provincial officials to discuss ways to prevent such deadly incidents at Verde Island and other dive spots. Shark attacks in the waters around the Philippines are exceedingly rare, with none recorded in at least a year, according to a global database. The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
28-02-2025
- Telegraph
Russian tourist killed by shark in scuba diving incident
Two Russian tourists have died in the Philippines after a scuba diving trip ended with one of them drowning and the other being attacked by sharks. The divers, named locally as Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, were found dead after a strong current separated them from their group in a popular Philippine scuba spot. Mr Melekhov is believed to have drowned and Mr Peregudin is thought to have been attacked by sharks. His right arm was missing when he was found by search and rescue teams. Two other Russian tourists managed to swim back safely to their dive boat off Verde Island, in the province of Batangas, the Philippine coast guard provincial commander Capt Airland Lapitan said. The dive instructor and other divers in the area, along with Philippine coast guard personnel, immediately launched a search, according to Mr Lapitan. 'Sharks were moving around him' Mr Melekhov was found unconscious at sea an hour later and was declared dead by doctors in a Batangas hospital, he said. 'The other Russian diver was found while being attacked by sharks. His right arm, unfortunately, had been severed and the sharks were moving around him,' Mr Lapitan told The Associated Press. 'They somehow managed to pull him away.' An investigation is underway and the coast guard will meet provincial officials to discuss ways to prevent such deadly incidents at Verde Island and other dive spots. Shark attacks in the waters around the Philippines are exceedingly rare, with none recorded in at least a year, according to a global database.
