'I was fighting for my life': Caloosahatchee River drownings survivor recounts struggle

After finishing their church activities, four young men decided to cool off late Saturday afternoon by taking a dip in the nearby Caloosahatchee River, leading to a desperate struggle for survival with only one group member making it out alive.

"I was fighting for my life," said Victor Ixcoy, 21, a friend to the victims and member of Iglesia Evangelica Jesus Es La Verdad in Tice.

Ixcoy had gone back to help after watching everyone else jump back into the river to rescue their friend.

Though he survived, Ixcoy is mourning the loss of his friends Santos Tiul-Chen, 17, Victor Pedro-Gaspar, 19, and Pedro Miguel Pascual, 21.

Ixcoy said he doesn't remember much but remembers a chaotic struggle that nearly consumed them all.

He recalls his body being pulled, a foot on his elbow, and the desperate struggle to latch onto something as they tried to make it back on shore.

"I just don't remember, all these movements that we were doing inside the water," Ixcoy said. "I was just so focused on trying to save them, trying to save someone at least."

The drownings took place in the river near the Franklin Lock in Olga, adjacent to the WP Franklin South Recreation Area. The park is a popular spot for boating, canoeing, and kayaking as well as other outdoor activities, according to Recreation.gov.

Previous Coverage Three people who drowned Saturday in the Caloosahatchee River identified. Here's what we know

Original coverage Three people died after their bodies were pulled from the Caloosahatchee River: What we know

An account by a survivor: "It took a lot out of me."

Most of the young men got out of the water after finishing cooling off, but they noticed someone had not come back.

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.

The events that occurred were quick, with Ixcoy remembering there being a drop in depth as several of them began to struggle.

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.

"I guess they just grabbed each other and the weight they had made them drown quickly," Ixcoy said.

After the incident, Ixcoy said he was told that he was rescued by another boy who spotted his right arm touching the surface of the shore. He had a seizure and was taken to the hospital.

"It took a lot out of me. I wasn't strong anymore; my arms were gone, and I felt like everything was gone," Ixcoy said.

The drowning victims' pastor speaks on the incident

Iglesia Evangelica Jesus Es La Verdad, a church in Tice, holds regular activities, like bible study sessions for the youth group that the teenagers were part of, at the park.

Pastor Ovidio Vasquez said he recalls the group finishing their Saturday activities and last seeing the young men playing soccer.

By the time he returned to the church from the park, he saw the news that one youth had drowned.

"After just 6-7 minutes (of returning), I heard the news that one (youth) had drowned," Vasquez said. "I returned, but when I arrived, the police were already there looking for them."

He laments the loss of the boys who were members of the church.

"We are devastated by this, especially for the family," Vasquez said. "We lament everything that happened."

Mourning lost friends: "My life will never be the same."

Ixcoy remembers the young men as good, respectful guys who had a lot of life to still live.

"They were good guys," Ixcoy said.

He had known all of them for years, talking with them, hanging with them during the church's activities, and remembers their love of soccer.

Ixcoy was especially close with Pascual, growing up with him for almost seven years since he got to Fort Myers, and even teaching him to play Spanish music using percussions.

Reflecting back on the events, Ixcoy said God has his plan, but that things don't feel right.

"I walked in there with them, and I had to leave without them," Ixcoy said. "I was going to go with them, my life will never be the same."

"The old me, the old Victor that everyone used to know, I felt like my life died with them too — everything that I did before, washed away, and I have to start over again," he added.

He wants people to remember these boys and to remember not to take life for granted and to be grateful for what they have.

He also hopes people take extra precautions if they can't swim after hearing their story.

"Life, you don't have it bought, it's yours, but it can go at any moment," Ixcoy said.

Luis Zambrano is a Watchdog/Cape Coral reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. You can reach Luis at Lzambrano@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Lz2official.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Caloosahatchee River drowning victims remembered as 'good guys'