The body of 17-year-old Alejandro Vázquez, a minor swept out to sea on Sunday afternoon, was recovered at Isla Verde, on the beach behind the Galaxy condominium, on the border between Carolina and San Juan. Carlos Acevedo, commissioner of the San Juan Municipal Office of Emergency Management (OMME), identified the teen, whom he described as a resident of Río Piedras; a later description in the report also calls him a San Juan resident.
The incident was reported around 5:49 PM in the Punta Las Marías area, near Isla Verde avenue and Júpiter street, through a 9-1-1 call. Acevedo said there was a group of students at the beaches when the current pulled two children, and this one went under. When officers arrived, they were informed by the minor’s cousin, who heard cries for help and tried to help but could not because of the strength of the marine current.
Municipal, state and Coast Guard rescue personnel searched without finding him Sunday night and resumed Monday morning. Over the weekend, authorities had warned about dangerous sea conditions, especially life-threatening rip currents on exposed beaches of Puerto Rico’s north, northwest and east coasts, as well as the island municipality of Culebra.