Tragic Discovery: Rescuers Recover Body of Missing Swimmer from Flamenco Beach, Culebra

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Coast Guard along with local emergency response teams concluded the search for a missing swimmer after responders found and retrieved his body off Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico, on Friday.

The deceased has been identified as Brandon Smith, a U.S. citizen in his sixties from Connecticut, who was living in Culebra. His body was located approximately one nautical mile away from Flamenco Beach by local emergency responders utilizing a drone.

A marine unit from the Puerto Rico Police Joint Force of Rapid Action responded to the coordinates, where they discovered Smith’s unresponsive body. His remains were taken to the Puerto Rico Institute of Forensic Sciences for identification confirmation.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Brandon Smith, and we hope they find strength and closure in this incredibly challenging time,” stated Lt. Cmdr. Ray Lopez, Coast Guard Search and Rescue mission coordinator for this incident. “While the outcome of this situation is truly tragic, we are genuinely grateful for all interagency response units and personnel who collaborated effectively and did their utmost to locate Smith.”

Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan initially received a notification at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, indicating that the swimmer was caught in severe weather. A Good Samaritan entered the water with a surfboard and left it near the swimmer before returning to shore due to worsening sea conditions.

Agencies and units involved in the search:

• U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen
• U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft
• Civil Air Patrol aircraft – U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
• Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau
• Culebra Municipal Office of Emergency Management and Police
• Puerto Rico Joint Forces of Rapid Action
• Puerto Rico Emergency Medical Services

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