A Cebuano surgeon and veteran diver was killed in an accident in the underwater cave of the Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
Dr. Alfonso Amores together with a group of professional divers was setting up safety gear for a television shoot on Tuesday when the accident happened, reports said.
His body was retrieved after an eight hour search. Amores was found lodged 40 meters underwater.
Amores’ brother, Lapu-Lapu City Vice Mayor Mario Amores went to Surigao del Sur immediately upon receiving reports about the incident.
Andy Berame, head of the Task Force Kalikasan of Lapu-Lapu City, said he last saw the surgeon on Thursday for their usual night diving in Mactan. He helped Amores pack diving gear that he took to Surigao.
“He was excited because diving in the Enchanted River is always a challenge, it’s never easy. When you get out of the cave, that’s already a big accomplishment for a diver,” said Berame.
The underwater cave is the size of two basketball courts. Berame said exiting the cave is the most difficult part of the dive.
“The water pulls you back to the cave. You’d be lucky if the current is not that strong,” added Berame.
Amores, a reconstructive surgeon, was a licensed cave scuba diver and was trained in the United States.
A resident of Lapu-Lapu City, he led the creation of marine sanctuaries in Mactan and trained the city’s Task Force Kalikasan which is incharge of monitoring illegal activities at sea.
Amores’ wife is coming home from the United States. His body was expected to arrive in Cebu last night.