Two Russian tourists have been found dead after being swept away by strong undercurrents while scuba diving off Verde Island in the Philippines.
One of the victims was discovered in the jaws of a shark with a missing arm.
The other was found unconscious at sea and later declared dead at a Batangas hospital.
The incident occurred on Thursday when the divers were pulled apart by a deadly current.
The shark attack occurred on Thursday when the divers were pulled apart by a deadly current.
Four Russian men aged 18 to 57 set off via boat with a Filipino dive instructor off Verde Island on Thursday afternoon.
The group’s dive turned dangerous when they were pulled apart by a strong current.
Some members of the group managed to surface and return safely to their boat.
However, Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, were separated from the others.
The remaining tourists in the dive group were fortunate to escape the deadly undercurrents.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The group’s dive turned dangerous when they were pulled apart by a strong current
GETTY
Rescuers discovered the two missing divers hours later, according to the Philippine coast guard.
Maksim Melekhov was found unconscious at sea and was pronounced dead by doctors at a Batangas hospital.
In a more gruesome discovery, Ilia Peregudin was found in the jaws of a shark.
It remains unknown whether he was killed by the shark or was already dead when the animal found him.
The bodies were turned over to family members without an autopsy being performed.
Shark attacks in Philippine waters are extremely rare, with none recorded in at least a year.
Philippine Coast Guard personnel ride a rubber boat
GETTY
Philippine Coast Guard provincial commander Captain Airland Lapitan provided details about the recovery of Peregudin’s body.
“The other one was found at about 4-5.30 pm and retrieved around 5-6 pm,” Lapitan said.
“When the rescuers found him, he was being pulled by a shark.”
“He was eventually retrieved but his arm was missing.”
As the bodies were turned over to family members without an autopsy, it remains unclear if the man had been killed by the shark or was already dead.
A stock image of a Great White Shark
GETTY
An investigation into the incident is currently underway, according to officials.
The coast guard is scheduled to meet with provincial officials to discuss preventative measures.
These talks will focus on how to prevent such deadly incidents at Verde Island and other popular dive spots in the region.
Safety protocols for diving in areas with strong currents are expected to be reviewed.
The tragedy has highlighted potential dangers for tourists engaging in water activities in the area.