PSC confirms death of 12-year-old junior wushu athlete ‘due to freak accident’

In an emergency press conference on Monday morning, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, Acting Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr., and Julian Camacho of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines confirmed the death of Rastafari Daraliay, a 12-year-old National developmental Wushu athlete on Saturday morning, September 29.

“We at the Wushu Federation Philippines are shocked at the untimely death of one of the members of the Wushu family, Rastafari Daraliay due to a freak accident…we grieve with Rastafari’s bereaved family particularly his parents." Camacho said.

"Wushu Federation Philippines will extend to his family whatever assistance they need,” he added. 

According to the officials, the autopsy report will come from the parents, who are expecting its release on Wednesday. “Nag-usap kami na wala kaming itatago. But more or less the story is the same: bumagsak siya ng 3 a.m.,” Ramirez said.

Accompanied by three other athletes, Rasta slept in the top bunk of a double-bunk bed inside the athlete’s dorm at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. At 3 a.m., they heard a loud thud: Rasta had fallen off the bed.

After Rasta assured his roommates that he was fine, one of his older roommates thought it best for Rasta to sleep in the lower bunk bed. “At about 5 a.m., parang nag-aagawan sila ng kumot, so the older roommate, moved Rasta to another bed," Camacho narrated. 

At about 8:30 a.m., the secretaries went to ask Rasta what he wanted for breakfast, which was when they found him frothing at the mouth. “Dinala nila sa clinic, after which they brought him to the hospital,” narrates Camacho.

His remains lie in state at the Sancturio de San Vicente de Paul in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. — LA, GMA News