Philippines Shark Attack: 2 Tourists Killed at Popular Diving Spot

Two tourists tragically lost their lives in the Philippines after being swept away by a strong undercurrent and encountering sharks at a popular diving spot.

The victims, Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, both Russian nationals, were diving off Verde Island, a location famed for its breathtaking marine life and corals. Unfortunately, their dive took a horrifying turn on Thursday when they were carried towards a group of sharks that were resurfacing, according to reports from Viral Press.

Philippine Coast Guard Captain Airland Lapitan explained, "There was a strong current, and the group were separated. Two of them who were with the master diver were able to return to their boat, but the other two failed to resurface." The recovery effort faced challenges as sharks circled one of the bodies. "We believe the individual was attacked by sharks because their right hand was missing," Lapitan added grimly.

Footage from the dive, taken just moments before the attack, showed schools of fish swimming peacefully in the area. But the serene scene didn’t last long. Peregudin was found unconscious at sea and was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital in Batangas.

Diego Reyes, a local resident who had been diving with the Russian tourists, described the experience as "overwhelming and traumatizing." He remarked, "We personally experienced that there were strong currents left and right and also strong waves at the surface. It was really challenging to get back with the group once you got separated."

Reyes expressed his condolences, saying, "Rest in peace to the Russian divers," and hoped that authorities would uncover more details about the incident. Meanwhile, an investigation into the attack is ongoing.