A YOUNG man in his 20s tragically lost his life after drowning in the waters off Titiana village on Sunday afternoon.
The deceased is from Nukunau village, which is situated at the far end of Titiana on the outskirts of Gizo, the Western Provincial Capital.
The incident occurred between 3pm and 4pm when a group of boys went out diving beyond the coral reef.
The deceased, who reportedly had an asthmatic condition, encountered difficulties while underwater and drowned.
Speaking to Solomon Star in an interview, a witness who accompanied other boys on the diving trip, warned the deceased not to follow them or to dive with them.
‘’However, the boy did not want to follow my instruction. Instead, he jumped out from the canoe into the sea and dived with the other boys.
“Before an hour, the boy was not sighted in the water and that’s when we noticed he must have drowned already,” the witness said.
It was then that a search was launched and after several hours, his body was recovered from deep waters outside the coral area before dark by his friends,” the witness added.
The body was rushed by an Ambulance to the Gizo Hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Western Province Authorities are yet to release further details about the incident, but the tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with deep-water diving, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
