Renato Burion, 44, of Sampaloc, Manila, was one of several frontliners who protect the Black Nazarene image.
"The devotee had a heart attack and was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival," Johnny Yu of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Office said.
Barangay kagawad Adam Sanding said Burion was trapped on top of the carriage as devotees scrambled on top of him in order to touch the image.
"Naipit yung katawan niya sa taas dahil sa pagsampa sa ibabaw, sa pagpunas sa mahal na Señor, malas isa na rin nag trigger sa kanya. Nahirapan siyang huminga," he said.
"Siksikan talaga, gusto makahalik, makapunas sa krus ng Señor," he added, referring to the image of the Black Nazarene.
He said it took 15 minutes for the official escorts of the image to remove Burion from the top of the carriage.
"Nandoon pa rin siya sa ibabaw ng andas, dun siya nakalupaypay. Nung inaangat na namin, sa sobrang daming sumasampa, nahirapan din kami sa pag-angat. Naipit pa rin," he added.
Sanding said Burion had only been serving as member of the Hijos del Nazareno for five years.
He said official escorts of the image are willing to lay down their lives to protect the Black Nazarene.
"Ang trabaho nga ng alagad o official escort ay protektahan number one ang Señor. Pangalawa na lang siguro ang buhay namin," he said.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
