A search operation for two missing beachgoers in General Santos City turned tragic on Wednesday after authorities recovered the body of an eight-year-old boy off the city’s waters.
The Coast Guard District Southern Mindanao said the remains were found near the Gensan Fishport in Barangay Tambler on June 10, after local fishermen reported seeing a floating body in the area.
Coast Guard personnel immediately responded using a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat and rubber boat to verify the report. The team located and retrieved the body at around 8:40 am, approximately five nautical miles from the shoreline of Barangay Tambler.
The remains were brought to shore at around 9:13 am and were later identified by family members as their missing eight-year-old male relative.
Authorities said the body was turned over to the family after proper identification procedures.
The boy was one of two beachgoers earlier reported missing in Barangay Bawing, General Santos City.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the operation was part of its continuing search and rescue response under its iCARE, or Intensified Community Assistance, Awareness, Response, and Enforcement program.
The incident also served as a somber reminder of the risks in coastal and open-water areas, particularly for families and children visiting beaches during leisure trips. Authorities have repeatedly urged beachgoers to observe safety precautions, monitor weather and sea conditions, and immediately report emergencies to local responders.
Search and rescue efforts for the remaining missing beachgoer are expected to continue.