Heroic Act: Family Speaks of Colombian Youth Who Died Saving Drowning Swimmers in Sarasota
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA/Tampa Hoy) – A Colombian family residing in Sarasota is in mourning after losing one of their own drowned on a Sarasota beach. Amidst the grief, they face an additional challenge as they cannot give their loved one a Christian burial due to lacking the necessary economic resources to do so.
“We came for a dream, to achieve many goals, to support our little girl. And our lives changed,” said Wendy Rodríguez, wife of José Daniel Venta Ciro, a young Colombian who lost his life while attempting to rescue two swimmers who were swept away by a rip current at Turtle Beach in Sarasota on Sunday.
The body of 23-year-old José Daniel was found on Monday afternoon in the area of 9150 Blind Pass Road, near Siesta Key, approximately a quarter-mile south of where recovery efforts were underway, said deputies from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
Andrea Ciro, mother of José Daniel, says her son is a true hero as he lost his life helping two swimmers who were rescued from a dangerous rip current.
“My boy always cared for others, and in that moment, yes, my son is a hero,” said the distraught mother, who also mentioned she never knew who the bathers were whom her son helped rescue.
Julián Betancourt, cousin of José Daniel, says their family still hasn’t been able to retrieve the body of their loved one to bid him a final farewell.
“We still don’t have the resources to retrieve him because it’s not just the funeral expenses but also the expenses for his body, his ceremony… It’s the least we can do for him,” says Betancourt.
Following the young man’s death, his mother Andrea and his wife Wendy are trying to move forward, especially to provide everything necessary for José Daniel’s 5-year-old daughter, who suffers from a medical condition called bilateral profound hearing loss.
Last September, José Daniel arrived in the United States with his family, hoping to provide a better quality of life and better care for his daughter’s condition.
“My girl doesn’t hear; my girl has an implant. They put a cochlear implant on her (…) My girl is five and a half years old but in terms of hearing, she’s less than two years old,” explains the grandmother of the little girl and mother of José Daniel.”
“We also came because here there is a future for her,” Wendy said.
Now the family faces thousands of dollars in funeral expenses and to support the little girl as they navigate through this traumatic transition period after losing José Daniel, who was the main financial provider.
For this reason, they have created a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, seeking the support of the community during these challenging times.
“We hope in God that it can touch the hearts of several people: friends, family, anyone who is able to contribute something so that he can rest well… rest in peace,” Betancourt concluded.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
