Mental Health and Financial Struggles Converge in Tragic Drowning of Elderly Resident
ILOILO CITY – Tragedy struck the community of East Baluarte, Barangay Boulevard, Molo on Saturday afternoon, April 3, 2023, as Salvacion De Mesa, a 68-year-old resident, drowned in a nearby river after falling from a bridge. Despite the valiant efforts of community members to resuscitate her, Salvacion was unable to be saved.
Barangay Kagawad John Espia, who was at the scene, reported that Salvacion’s body had already been retrieved from the water when he arrived. CPR was being administered, but she remained unresponsive. It took approximately 30 minutes for Salvacion’s body to be recovered from the river.
Investigations revealed that Salvacion did not jump from the bridge, but fell from it. The previous day, she had attempted to jump off the bridge, but her family stopped her. Salvacion had been suffering from a nervous breakdown since February due to financial stress, and she had recently been expressing suicidal thoughts, according to her sister-in-law, Ligaya De Mesa.
Ligaya shared that the family was facing financial difficulties and was unable to provide the necessary care and medication for Salvacion’s condition. The family is now seeking financial assistance, and Ligaya is appealing to the public for help.
