Casogay clarifies Indonesian rival not drowning during surfing competition

Medalist Roger Casogay with his fiancee Lisa Uerwey after the 30th Southeast Asian Games competition. INQUIRER NORTH LUZON/RAY B. ZAMBRANO

MANILA, Philippines — Heroic surfer Roger Casogay clarified Tuesday his Indonesian rival Arip Nurhidayat was not drowning when he helped him from being swept away by waves during the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games’s longboard surfing competition.

“Yung sa nangyari na yon, hindi naman siya nalulunod talaga e. Nagfofloat siya, sinubukan niyang makabalik sa shoreline kaso malakas yung kain, natatangay siya palabas,” Casogay said in an interview at the Senate.

(He was not drowning. He was floating and was trying to go back to the shoreline but the waves were too strong.)

Casogay also said the competition was put on hold because of Nurhidayat’s situation.

“Tapos ako yung pinakamalapit na nandun sa kung nasan siya. Saka that time, hinold na nila,” Casogay recalled. “Yun nga kasi hindi siya makabalik.”

(I was the one closest to where he was. And that time, they held the competition because he could not return.)

The Senate commended Casogay Tuesday for “exhibiting acts of heroism and bravery.”

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said Casogay would receive an Order of Lapu-Lapu award from President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Filipino surfer has been named the country’s flag-bearer during the closing ceremony of the 30th SEA Games.