SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico − Coast Guard air and surface assets continue the search for a missing person in the water off the Condado Beach area in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday.
Missing is a Samuel Cruz, 23, reportedly visiting from New York, who came into distress while attempting to rescue another person in the water.
“As we continue to search with our partners for a young man off the Condado Beach area, we advise people and visitors across the island to heed warning signs at beaches and from weather advisories,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ray Lopez, Coast Guard Sector San Juan Search and Rescue mission coordinator for the case. “Conditions at beaches are presently dangerous due to high risk of rip currents affecting the north, east and southeast coasts of Puerto Rico.”
Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a call from a 911 emergency service operator at 7:05 p.m., Wednesday, reporting two people in distress off Condado Beach. The reporting source stated a Good Samaritan went into the water and rescued one of two women in the distress, while a second Good Samaritan who attempted to render assistance was swept away by a wave and currents, and he remains missing. A third Good Samaritan subsequently rescued the second woman originally in distress.
Watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to alert the public and boaters in the area of the ongoing distress and directed the launch of a Station San Juan surface unit and an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen. Search efforts throughout the night yielded negative results.
Coast Guard and local agency emergency response units involved in the search:
- Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter
- Station San Juan 33-foot Special Purpose Craft
- Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine units
- Puerto Fire Department Corps
- Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau
- San Juan Municipal Office of Emergency Management
Our U.S. Coast Guard crews stands ready to save lives, protect America’s waterways, and support safe maritime activity.
For the latest information on the grounding and response efforts, follow Sector San Juan.
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