The wife of a British tourist has died in a freak watersports accident after being thrown into the air from an inflatable raft at a resort in the Philippines.
Catherine Egam Mcewan, a 43-year-old mother of two from Cagayan de Oro City, tried the activity during her trip with her husband Ken Mcewan and their children on Olango Island on July 11 before falling headfirst to her death.
Horror footage shows Catherine lying on one end of a striped inflatable jetty in the crystal blue waters before a staff member prepares to jump from a high railing.
When the man lands on the balloon, the mother launches into the air, but instead of diving into the water With a splash as expected, Catherine crashed headfirst into the surface of the inflatable, cracking her neck and rolling into the sea.
Lifeguards waited for her to surface for a moment, but when she remained motionless underwater, worker Jay Paul Ontong, 21, rushed to drag her back to shore near Pinky’s Floating Cottage resort, which operated the attraction.
The wife of a British tourist died when she fell headfirst while bouncing on an inflatable marine ride at a resort in the Philippines on July 11. Pictured: Catherine Egam Mcewan, 43 (right), from Cagayan de Oro City, with her husband Ken Mcewan (left) and their children (centre)
Catherine could be seen lying on the inflatable moments before she died.
Catherine had tried the ‘balloon bouncing’ activity during her holiday trip to Pinky’s Floating Cottage resort on Olango Island, Philippines.
The 43-year-old woman landed on her neck after being thrown into the air and was in a coma for eight days before she died.
Footage captured Jay frantically swimming in open water towards where Catherine’s body was floating near the balloon.
Catherine was taken to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, where she remained in a coma until she tragically died on July 19.
Her devastated husband Ken, a technology specialist from Edinburgh now based in Singapore, posted a tribute photo online of himself with Catherine and their two children.
Police, citing his death certificate, said he died of a “spinal injury due to extreme water sports.”
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan issued a cease and desist order on Pinky’s Floating Cottage on July 21.
He said: ‘We close the attraction immediately after the death of the visitor.
‘There will be a meeting with all operators next week to discuss the details of the current update, including security practices.’
Authorities conducted an investigation following Catharine’s tragic death
In footage after the incident, investigators and police officers could be seen flipping through permit documents.
Meanwhile, the resort manager said all visitors are given instructions before attempting the balloon jump activity.
A team of investigators and police officers were also seen gathering at the water’s edge to assess the incident and were seen leafing through permit documents.
The owners of the resort have agreed to cover Catherine’s medical and burial expenses.
This comes just two days after a British woman died after losing consciousness while swimming at a beach in Greece.
A lifeguard pulled the 66-year-old woman from the water at Achladies Beach in Skiathos shortly after midday on Friday after she fell unconscious.
Medical professionals performed CPR and immediately rushed the woman to the nearby Skiathos Health Centre, but unfortunately were unable to save her life.
The woman is believed to have lost consciousness due to the “intense heat of the area” as temperatures reached 31°C on the island and there was little respite.
An FCDO spokesperson told MailOnline: “We have offered consular support to friends of a British woman who died in Greece.”
