16-yr-old falls of boat and drowns in Cagayan River; investigation says victim could have suffered epilepsy attack

Alcala, Cagayan - Authorities and volunteers in Alcala, Cagayan are currently engaged in a search and rescue effort to locate the body of a 16-year-old teenager who drowned along the Cagayan River in the area this Friday, February 28. 

The teenager was identified as John mark Costales, a “motorbanca” or motorboat operator and a resident of Barangay Carallangan, Alcala.

According to the Cagayan Information Office, MDRRMO-Alcala Chief Geffrey Arest a relayed that they were notified about the drowning incident at around 10:00 a.m. The rescue team promptly proceeded to the location to find the victim’s body.

In their initial investigation, Johnmark was traversing the river aboard a passenger motorboat with three others when he accidentally fell from the boat. His colleagues did not notice what had happened immediately, so they were unable to help him at the time.

According to Aresta, the relatives of the victim confessed that he had epilepsy, and that it was possible  that he was attacked by his condition, which resulted in his fall into the river.

As of this writing, Johnmark is still not found, and authorities are having a hard time finding his body because of the strong river current. However, they assured that they will do everything to find the victim.