12-Year-Old Hero Swims 5 Hours to Save Family After Boat Capsizes
A 12-year-old Antique girl was honored by the Philippine Coast Guard after swimming nearly six kilometers to seek help for her family.
A 12-year-old girl from Antique is being hailed for extraordinary courage after swimming for about five hours to find help for her family when their motorbanca capsized at sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard identified the girl as Cherry Ann Mateo, a resident of Sitio Tigbao on Batbatan Island in Culasi, Antique. According to the PCG, Mateo swam nearly six kilometers after the accident, pushing through open water just to seek rescue.
Coast Guard District Western Visayas Commodore Ludovico Librilla Jr. led a tribute for Mateo on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the CGDWV headquarters in Lapuz, Iloilo City. The PCG said her actions showed remarkable courage during a frightening emergency.
Two other rescuers, Edgar Antonio and Johnny Patricio, were also recognized for their role in the successful rescue operation. The Coast Guard praised the heroism, selflessness, and bayanihan spirit shown by everyone involved.
Mateo’s story stands out as a real-life survival moment many Filipinos will search for and share: a young girl, a capsized boat, and a desperate swim that helped bring her family to safety.
Source: GMA News
