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Devotee escorting Nazarene image dies during procession
(Updated 12:56 p.m.) Tragedy struck this year's Feast of the Black Nazarene after a devotee escorting the image died of heart attack Friday morning.
An earlier report by radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen said Gurion's colleagues brought him to the hospital but doctors could not save him.
"Hindi na nakayanan, sobra siguro. Sabi (ng duktor) nawala na raw, nabawian na ng buhay," a colleague of the fatality from the Hijos de Nazareno-Nuesto Padre Jesus Nazareno told dzBB's Nielsen.
Photo by Raffy Tima
"Ang nangyari, mismo sa loob ng andas nangyari. Kasama namin sa ibabaw ng andas, doon siya naabutan, nahirapan sa paghinga. Hindi namin mahugot ng kasama sa ibabaw sa sobrang dami ng tao, tinakbo namin sa ambulansya," he added.
He said the fatality was one of those tasked to escort the image from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church aboard a carriage.
"Itong kasama namin, malakas ito kasi sports-minded ito, tumatakbo ng 50-k... naggy-gym pa ito," he said.
Early Friday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said a total of 84 devotees were treated for various medical conditions at the Quirino Grandstand. Most of those treated were for hypertension and abrasions.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, on the other hand, attended to three devotess who lost conciousness.
Six have died in the 10 previous processions, with many injured by the crush of the crowd. Two deaths were reported in 2010 alone. — Joel Locsin and Amita Legaspi/LBG/RSJ, GMA News
Johnny Yu, head of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, identified the fatality as Renato Gurion, 44.
“Ang cause of death niya ay heart attack, mamamasan from Dimasalang (in Manila). Hindi siya naipit based sa initial report sa amin, tinamaan siya ng heart attack,” Yu said in an interview on GMA News TV's Balitanghali.
The incident happened an hour after the Traslacion started and was still at the vicinity of Quirino Grandstand.
A medical bulletin released by Manila Doctors Hospital showed the victim was already dead when he was brought to the hospital, the same television report said.
"Hindi na nakayanan, sobra siguro. Sabi (ng duktor) nawala na raw, nabawian na ng buhay," a colleague of the fatality from the Hijos de Nazareno-Nuesto Padre Jesus Nazareno told dzBB's Nielsen.
Photo by Raffy Tima
"Ang nangyari, mismo sa loob ng andas nangyari. Kasama namin sa ibabaw ng andas, doon siya naabutan, nahirapan sa paghinga. Hindi namin mahugot ng kasama sa ibabaw sa sobrang dami ng tao, tinakbo namin sa ambulansya," he added.
He said the fatality was one of those tasked to escort the image from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church aboard a carriage.
It took members of Hijos some 15 minutes to finally extract the fatality out of the carriage when they saw him having difficulty in breathing. The number of people trying to get on the carriage to touch the Black Nazarene image contributed to the delay in extracting the victim.
Medical personnel at the first aid station noted that the victim had no heart beat when brought to them. Colleagues tried to get him to an ambulance but noted he already looked bad.
The fatality's colleagues said Gurion had an illness but maintained a healthy lifestyle and was sports-minded.
Early Friday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said a total of 84 devotees were treated for various medical conditions at the Quirino Grandstand. Most of those treated were for hypertension and abrasions.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, on the other hand, attended to three devotess who lost conciousness.
Six have died in the 10 previous processions, with many injured by the crush of the crowd. Two deaths were reported in 2010 alone. — Joel Locsin and Amita Legaspi/LBG/RSJ, GMA News
