A 16-year-old boy was killed and his 14-year-old friend remains in critical condition after a lightning strike hit them while they were swimming in the sea at Purok Santan, Barangay Daanlungsod, Tuburan town, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at around 3 p.m.
Victim identified
The fatality was identified as Fernando Dalogdog III, a Grade 10 student and the youngest of two siblings. His companion, Jarrie Dabon, a close friend and neighbor, is still hospitalized. Police Master Sgt. Alfitche Mangaron of the Tuburan Police Station told SunStar Superbalita Cebu that Marvin Rivera Pacquiao, an uncle of Dalogdog III, reported the incident.
According to PMSG Mangaron, the victim and his friend had gone home for lunch because their class was canceled due to a teacher's meeting. They were scheduled to return to school at 3 p.m., so Dalogdog and Dabon decided to go swimming in the sea. Dalogdog was accompanied by his girlfriend, Railyn Umpad, 15.
Lightning strike details
Based on the investigation by the Tuburan Police Station, Umpad stated that while they were swimming with other friends, it suddenly rained and lightning struck. Dalogdog was hit on the chest, and his girlfriend and Dabon were also affected. Rescue personnel from ANDAM Tuburan immediately assisted the victims and brought them to the Tuburan District Hospital, but Fernando III was declared dead on arrival due to severe injuries.
Ramil Dalogdog, a cousin of the deceased, said that he and his brother Marjun Dalogdog were at the sea around 2:30 p.m., and the victims followed them to swim. It was not raining at that time. Minutes later, a heavy downpour accompanied by thunder and lightning suddenly occurred.
“My cousin was carrying his girlfriend while they were swimming, and when lightning struck them, they were thrown apart,” Ramil recounted. Ramil and Marjun immediately helped Dabon and Umpad, who sustained minor hand injuries, and brought them to the shore. They then searched for Fernando, who had disappeared from sight after being thrown about three fathoms away from his original location by the lightning strike.
Discovery and aftermath
It took about an hour of diving before they found Fernando III near a large rock, already lifeless with burn marks on his body. “He was submerged underwater, and when I got him, he was already black. It seemed he was already dead in the sea,” Ramil added. “His chest was really burned from the force of the lightning. His girlfriend and friend also had burned hands,” PMSG Mangaron said.
Friends and relatives said the victim was very happy before the incident. His girlfriend was traumatized and kept crying. It was common for the victim and his girlfriend to meet at the beach and date there.
