Three young men tragically drowned on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in the Caloosahatchee River near Franklin Lock in Alva, Florida, a day that was initially meant for leisure and enjoyment.
The victims, Pedro Miguel Pascual, 21, Victor Pedro-Gaspar, 19, and Santos Tiul-Chen, 17, were at a youth church gathering. Following the event, they decided to swim in the river, oblivious to the lurking peril.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Tiul-Chen, who had no swimming experience, began to struggle as soon as he entered the water. Pascual attempted to rescue him but soon found himself in distress as well.
In an effort to save his friends, Pedro-Gaspar entered the water but all three succumbed and did not resurface. A fourth individual tried to assist but was able to return to shore and was later transported to the hospital.
Neyda Velasquez, a friend of the victims, expressed her grief, “It’s incredibly sad. We can’t come to terms with it… everyone is struggling, especially the families. Imagine seeing your son leave in the morning and never return. It’s really hard to accept. We still can’t believe it’s real.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had displayed signs in the Franklin Lock area discouraging swimming, wading, snorkeling, or scuba diving due to potential dangers. Despite the warnings, the tragic incident occurred.
Local resident Mike Ritter, a frequent park visitor, stressed the importance of following the safety signs. “I think that it is probably wise to pay attention to the signs in the area and kind of heed the warning for whatever the reasons are,” Ritter suggested.
The investigation disclosed that Tiul-Chen’s lack of swimming skills led to the initial struggle, and the situation worsened when his friends tried to save him. The water in the location is approximately 10 feet deep, which further complicated the rescue efforts.
Ritter added, “It’s a boat access point, so there are always boats coming and going. The sign clearly says no swimming. We just come here to fish and stick to that.”
Florida is ranked second nationwide for drowning deaths among children aged one to four and fifth overall for drowning incidents across all ages. This incident underscores the urgent need for water safety awareness and adherence to safety guidelines in potentially risky areas.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the Franklin Lock and the nearby recreation area, is taking steps to prevent similar incidents. Along with new signage and increased patrols, they are advocating for visitors to wear life jackets and be cognizant of the risks involved with swimming in natural bodies of water.
As of May 22, swimming has been prohibited at the location by the Caloosahatchee River near Franklin Lock in Florida, in response to the incident.
The community continues to mourn the loss of these young lives and memorial services have been arranged by the church to honor the victims. Velasquez reflected on the victims’ positive impact, saying, “They were kind young men devoted to the work of our Lord Jesus.”
