Young men drown in Florida's Caloosahatchee River while trying to save someone else

Luis Zambrano, Tomas Rodriguez and Emily DeLetter, USA TODAY
Updated ·3 min read

Three young men drowned after swimming in the Caloosahatchee River near the Franklin Lock in Alva, Florida.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office has identified the three who drowned on Saturday May 18 as Santos Tiul-Chen, 17; Victor Pedro-Gaspar, 19, and Pedro Miguel Pascual, 21.

Two of the victims were identified by the sheriff's office Monday morning; the third Monday afternoon.

The drownings happened when two of the drowning victims attempted to rescue the first victim, the sheriff's office said in an emailed statement Monday to the Fort Myers News-Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The young men were visiting the river as part of a youth event and attended Jesus Es La Verdad Church in Fort Myers, according to local reports.

Alva is located about 18 miles east of Fort Myers and is nearby to Florida's Gulf Coast.

Since the drownings, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the lock and the nearby recreation area, is prohibiting swimming at the site.

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Investigation finds cause of drownings

The sheriff's office said Monday morning that its investigation revealed that Tiul-Chen, who had no swimming experience, entered the water and began struggling. The water in the area is approximately 10 feet deep.

Pascual jumped in to assist Tiul-Chen but began struggling as well, the sheriff's office said.

Pedro-Gaspar soon entered the water to help the other two, as all three victims went under the water and did not resurface.

A fourth person also entered to assist the three individuals but made it back on shore, later being transported to the hospital.

Victims were swimming as part of a youth event

Tiul-Chen, Pedro-Gaspar and Pascual all attended Jesus Es La Verdad Church in Fort Myers and were at a youth event. They had stayed behind to swim after the event ended, according to NBC2 in Fort Myers.

The three young men were remembered during Sunday's service, and a memorial sits inside the church with flowers and pictures.

“I’ve known them since I started attending the church that’s right behind us. They were sweet young gentlemen that were dedicated to the work of our Lord Jesus,” Neyda Velasquez, a friend of the victims, told NBC2.

Franklin Lock park restrictions

The WP Franklin South Recreation Area is adjacent to the WP Franklin Lock and Dam, and a popular spot for boating, canoeing and kayaking as well as other outdoor activities, according to Recreation.gov. In addition to a camping site, family-friendly activities include volleyball and horseshoe courts, a playground, and several covered picnic spots, according to the site.

The park, which was closed Saturday during the emergency, has reopened.

However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has placed restrictions and safety measures at the park following the drownings.

Amanda Parker, deputy chief of the corporate communications office, wrote in an email statement that swimming at WP Franklin South is now prohibited while the agency reexamines best safety practices.

"Temporary signs have been placed throughout the recreation area in English and Spanish," Parker wrote. "Rangers and volunteers have increased patrols along the shoreline."

Florida ranks first among 50 states in child drowning deaths and fourth overall for every age; only Hawaii, Alaska and Montana have more.

Reporter Diana Biederman contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 3 victims who drowned in Florida's Caloosahatchee River identified