Deepwell digger dies from suffocation

SARRAT, Ilocos Norte, May 20–Roland Gabriel was a farmer from Catagraran, Solsona town who came to Brgy. San Manuel, this town for a while to help harvest in the ricefield. 

Aside from farming, his forte was also deep well digging. At about 7:00 a.m., he fetched water from a deep well of his cousin Roy Gabriel and took a bath.

He noticed that the water was murky. So, he readily volunteered to clean up the bottom of the well.

Unfortunately, the well is 20-meter deep where air circulation was limited. Gabriel felt dizzy and weak as he cried for help.
Rescuers arrived but it was too late.

He expired due to suffocation aggravated by soil toxin fumes, said P/Chief Inspector Herardo Layaoen Jr., head of the rescue team.

For almost three hours, the rescuers used a breathing apparatus in retrieving the body of Gabriel.