A 19-year-old man died after drowning while swimming with two friends at Fishport in Barangay Inoburan, Naga City, Cebu, at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 11.
Police identified the victim only by the alias Nathan, a resident of Minglanilla, Cebu.
His companions, Genesis, 18, and Ivan, 16, survived the incident.
According to the initial investigation by police, the three friends traveled to the area with other companions they met through an online game for a gathering.
After having lunch, they decided to swim in the sea.
Investigators said the group initially stayed in shallow water before moving into a deeper section.
Police said the area where they later swam was a restricted zone and had a warning flag posted to alert the public of the danger.
When the three began struggling in the water, their companions and several people nearby immediately responded to help.
Genesis and Ivan were rescued first.
Nathan was recovered several minutes later.
All three were rushed to a hospital for medical treatment.
The attending physician declared Nathan dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, Genesis and Ivan remain under medical observation and are reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities have reminded the public to observe safety warnings in swimming areas, particularly in locations where warning flags have been installed due to hazardous conditions.
Police continue to document the incident as part of their investigation.
