GMA Integrated News senior reporter and anchor Bam Alegre revealed that he fell from a ship during the middle of coverage, nearly costing him his life.
In a social media post, the journalist estimated that he fell around 10 to 18 feet from the ship before plunging into the water in early morning darkness.
“While submerged, I couldn’t feel the ground below. It was too deep. I was not ready for my entire life to flash back,” Alegre wrote in Filipino.
He soon realized that if he couldn’t will himself to float, his body would just eventually turn up as a corpse.
Fortunately, Alegre recalled his training, then muscle memory kicked in. He managed to swim out of danger.
Once the reporter caught his breath, he called for help.
“With the height of the fall, if anything had hit my head or if I lost consciousness, I would be a goner. But there was a miracle. There was a wake-up call, too. It’s not my time. This new life should be given meaning,” Alegre said.
In another post, he revealed that upon being rescued, his first instinct was to continue working.
“As soon as I was brought to the surface, I told the office, I can still do live for ‘Unang Hirit’ and report on those rescued in the West Philippine Sea who were being brought to Manila,” Alegre said.
“But GMA News prioritized having me checked at the hospital. My hands were also bleeding at the time. I hadn’t noticed. Adrenaline,” he added.
