Birthday picnic at Magat River turns tragic: 23-year-old man drowns

San Mateo, Isabela – A supposed to be happy hangout of friends in Isabela turned into tragic accident after one of them drowned in a river.

The casualty was identified as Benjie Marcelo, 23, a resident of San Mateo, Isabela.

San Mateo police investigations revealed that Marcelo, along with his friends, went to the Magat River in Barangay Sanlinungan West on May 27, 2024, to have a picnic.

One of his buddies was celebrating his birthday that day, so they decided to go to said river to have fun.

During their picnic, Marcelo went swimming.  However, while drifting with the water current, he ended in the deep portion of the river where he drowned.

Authorities, upon notification, proceeded to the location to rescue the victim. Unfortunately, Marcelo was already lifeless when found on the same day.

According to his relatives, Marcelo was a good swimmer, so they suspect that he might have suffered from leg cramps while swimming, causing him to drown.

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