Search ongoing for distressed swimmer
A popular hiking trail becomes the site for an ongoing search and rescue mission.
December 22, 2014Updated: December 22, 2014
By KUAM News
By KUAM News by Krystal Paco
Guam - A popular hiking trail becomes the site for an ongoing search and rescue mission.
It's been over 24-hours since the call for help was made from Marbo Cave in Mangilao.
"The distressed swimmer incident at the Marbo Cave area is currently ongoing," said Lieutenant Ed Artero, spokesman for the Guam Fire Department.
The call was made on Sunday at 1:38 in the afternoon. Within the hour, rescue units were on scene.
Artero added, "We have units out there doing a cliffline search. Up and down the coast area. We also have US Coast Guard doing an assessment on the water with their boats. It took a while for the boat units to get there because they had to come around the northern tip and the southern tip. But our land rescue units were there within the hour," he added.
But the mission hasn't been easy. As Artero reports, search and rescue efforts were suspended Sunday night due to rough water conditions and the loss of daylight. In addition, rescue units have had to navigate through the dangerous environment. "It's a very rocky terrain. Jagged rocks. There is no reef back there so the water does crash up along the coastline in that area," he explained.
Although it appears the individual was a hiker, there's still little known as to how the individual was swept away.
"We're not able to confirm, but according to some reports they were hiking along the coastline and I'm not too sure how he ended up in the water," he said.
While the mission resumed on Monday morning, Artero offers this advice to hikers, saying, "Advice would be to know your limitations. Know the conditions that you're going into. Make sure that you always hike with someone else. File your plan or notification to family members when they should expect you back and if you're not back by a certain time then that would be a good time to call authorities that they may be lost or in distress."
Until then, the search continues.
"As of now that mission will continue until further notice," he said.
Guam - A popular hiking trail becomes the site for an ongoing search and rescue mission.
It's been over 24-hours since the call for help was made from Marbo Cave in Mangilao.
"The distressed swimmer incident at the Marbo Cave area is currently ongoing," said Lieutenant Ed Artero, spokesman for the Guam Fire Department.
The call was made on Sunday at 1:38 in the afternoon. Within the hour, rescue units were on scene.
Artero added, "We have units out there doing a cliffline search. Up and down the coast area. We also have US Coast Guard doing an assessment on the water with their boats. It took a while for the boat units to get there because they had to come around the northern tip and the southern tip. But our land rescue units were there within the hour," he added.
But the mission hasn't been easy. As Artero reports, search and rescue efforts were suspended Sunday night due to rough water conditions and the loss of daylight. In addition, rescue units have had to navigate through the dangerous environment. "It's a very rocky terrain. Jagged rocks. There is no reef back there so the water does crash up along the coastline in that area," he explained.
Although it appears the individual was a hiker, there's still little known as to how the individual was swept away.
"We're not able to confirm, but according to some reports they were hiking along the coastline and I'm not too sure how he ended up in the water," he said.
While the mission resumed on Monday morning, Artero offers this advice to hikers, saying, "Advice would be to know your limitations. Know the conditions that you're going into. Make sure that you always hike with someone else. File your plan or notification to family members when they should expect you back and if you're not back by a certain time then that would be a good time to call authorities that they may be lost or in distress."
Until then, the search continues.
"As of now that mission will continue until further notice," he said.