Nazarene Devotee Suffocates to Death

Manila (PNA) — The annual procession of the Black Nazarene claimed its first death after one of the devotees reportedly suffocated to death when his chest got caught on the stainless railings of the “andas” (carriage) Friday morning.

The victim was identified as Renato Guryon, reportedly a member of the Hijos Del Nazareno, a religious group responsible for securing the “andas” and the religious icon.

Guryon was reportedly suffocated when the crowd at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila started shoving each other in a bid to get nearer to the “andas.”

The victim’s companions tried to extricate Guryon and rushed him to the Manila Doctors’ Hospital where medical teams pronounced him dead on arrival.

As this developed, the “andas” is still moving at a snail’s pace at Katigbak Drive, only a short distance from its original position at the Quirino Grandstand.

The procession’s slow rate of advance was attributable to the huge number of devotees in the “traslacion” or procession of the Black Nzarene. (PNA) FFC/PFN/CLTC