Man, 53, is found dead outside reef

Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel, with the assistance of a bystander, use the latter’s boat in pulling out Isidro Wabol, who was found dead and floating outside the reef of Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa yesterday afternoon. Photo shows DFEMS personnel transferring the body to a waiting ambulance. (Derek Gersonde)

A 53-year-old man who had gone swimming was later found dead outside the reef of Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa yesterday afternoon.

Isidro Wabol sustained trauma to the forehead with swelling and abrasions, according to Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman Derek Gersonde.

Gersonde said Wabol was taken to the Commonwealth Health Center, where a doctor pronounced him dead at 3:31pm.

The cause of the victim’s death is undetermined pending autopsy results.

Gersonde said that Wabol was swimming alone, but his family was at the beach.

Gersonde said DFEMS received a call from the Department of Public Safety about a possible stranded swimmer at Sugar Dock yesterday at 2:48pm.

Members of DFEMS Search and Rescue Unit, Rescue 1 and Medic-1 from the Susupe Fire Station were dispatched and arrived at the location at 2:51pm.

Search and Rescue Unit personnel, with the help of a bystander, launched the latter’s boat from Sugar Dock.

At 3pm, Search and Rescue Unit personnel found the victim floating face down outside the reef.

Gersonde said that Wabol showed obvious signs of death such as having no pulse, rigor mortis or stiffening of the body, and fixed and dilated pupils.

DPS spokesman Jason Tarkong said he is still waiting for the report from the Boating Safety officers, but he confirmed that the victim died.

Tarkong said the victim had been swimming and was later missing and found floating outside the buoy at Sugar Dock.

Tarkong said the family was also at the beach at that time.

The U.S. National Weather Service in Guam issued an advisory yesterday, telling the people in Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to avoid venturing near reef lines, especially along west and north facing shores, where there will be a high risk of life-threatening rip currents.

NWS said surf is hazardous at 9 to 12 feet along west, north, and northeast facing reefs.

Surf will begin to subside Friday night and could fall below hazardous levels Saturday morning.

Last year, two persons reportedly drowned in the CNMI.

Last May 15, a 67-year-old Korean woman died possibly due to drowning while swimming at Managaha Island. The victim, along with two daughters, one son-in-law, and some grandchildren, went swimming and family members later found her floating in the swimming area.

On Jan. 12, 2016, a Chinese male tourist drowned while swimming at Tachogna Beach on Tinian.