In a dramatic rescue operation, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) successfully saved a man who fell overboard at Lucena Port in Quezon on a Sunday afternoon. The incident, which occurred on February 2, 2025, prompted a swift response from the Coast Guard Sub-Station-Lucena’s search and rescue team, working alongside the Sea Marshal Unit of Southern Tagalog. The rescue was initiated after a report from the duty operations officer of Starhorse Shipping Lines.
The man, whose identity was not disclosed, was retrieved from the water and brought back to the pier where his condition was initially assessed. He was a 50-year-old resident of Poblacion, Milagros, Masbate, traveling with his niece on the MV Virgen De Peñafrancia XII. The ship had set sail from Bapor, Masbate Port on February 1 and reached Lucena Port the following day.
Just as the passengers were preparing to disembark, the man suddenly moved away from his designated area and jumped off the starboard side of the vessel’s ramp. His niece later disclosed that he suffered from a pre-existing mental or psychological condition, which might have contributed to his actions.
Following the rescue, the man’s son came to the Philippine Ports Authority Port Police to take custody of his father. The rescued individual was then transported to Quezon Medical Center for a thorough medical evaluation.
In response to the incident, the PCG has urged Starhorse Shipping Lines to increase vigilance, especially during the critical times of passenger disembarkation, to prevent similar occurrences in the future.