Japanese found dead in Cebu after scuba diving

By Ronron
October 6, 2007

A 47-year-old Japanese national was believed to have drowned to death while scuba diving in the central Philippine province of Cebu last Thursday, police said Saturday.

The victim was identified as Kimura Atsuo, 47, of 1-3-17 Tamagawa, Ota-ku, Tokyo, and temporarily residing in Guadalupe, Cebu City. Police said Atsuo is a tourist in the country.

Police said Atsuo went on scuba diving last Thursday afternoon in Barangay Datag, Maribago, Lapu-lapu City with a fellow Japanese, identified as Hideaki Yajima, and a Filipino assistant diving instructor, identified as Julian Lantafe.

They reportedly started their activity at 1:45 pm at the Kontiki Beach Resort.

But, according to Lantafe, Atsuo did not heed to his reminder while they were already some 60 to 80 meters deep not to go down further.

Lantafe told police that he and Yajima were forced to leave Atsuo underwater.

At around 2:30pm, Atsuo’s body surfaced and was spotted by personnel from another diving shop, who later turned it over to the Kontiki Beach Resort.

Police said responding personnel from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) found Atsuo to be dead already upon check-up at the Kontiki Beach Resort.

“The Japanese tourist exceeded his depth while scuba diving, per information from the dive instructor,” Lapu-lapu City Police Director Supt. Louie Oppus said in a text message.

Based on the diving machine, Atsuo reached 94 meters deep.

The management of the resort brought Atsuo to the Lapu-lapu City District Hospital where he was finally declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Although police initially noted no signs of foul play or struggle, they still subjected the body to an autopsy for final determination of the cause of death./DMS