Birthday Celebration Turns Tragic: Man Drowns in Daraitan River
DARAITAN RIVER – A family outing at the Daraitan River ended in heartbreak after a man drowned during what was meant to be a joyful celebration.
A supposed joyful family gathering ended in heartbreak after a man drowned in the Daraitan River in Tanay, Rizal, on the afternoon of Sunday, April 6. The victim was identified as Eric Castañares, as reported by ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol.
According to the report, Castañares and his family were celebrating a relative’s birthday with a picnic and swim in the scenic river. The celebration included food and drinks, and everything seemed to be going well. However, tragedy struck after lunch when Castañares, who had reportedly been drinking, decided to swim alone.
At around 3:00 PM, his family noticed his absence and began to worry. His brother-in-law shared that they searched for him for over an hour. Eventually, a young boy found his lifeless body and pulled it out of the water.
One of the victim’s nieces noted that there was a large lump on Castañares’ back, leading the family to suspect that he may have slipped and hit his back before drowning. The exact cause of the drowning, however, has yet to be confirmed by authorities.
The incident deeply shocked the family, who were not expecting that a day filled with laughter and bonding would end in mourning.
According to the Tanay Municipal Police, Castañares is the first recorded drowning case in the Daraitan River this year. They also mentioned that a similar incident occurred in the same area in 2024, prompting local authorities to once again remind visitors to exercise caution when swimming, especially after consuming alcohol.
The family hopes that their experience will serve as a warning to others about the dangers of swimming while intoxicated and the importance of safety in natural bodies of water.
The community mourns alongside the Castañares family as they cope with the sudden loss of a loved one.
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