PUERTO RICO – Authorities on Tuesday recovered the body of Fidel Llanos Cruz, a 34-year-old soldier who disappeared last Sunday after going out to rescue a 20-year-old tourist swept away by sea currents in Ventana del Mar. Behind La Concha Hotel, in Condado.
After two days of searching, the body was found floating three nautical miles north of La Concha Hotel and was rescued by FURA personnel.
“Losing a soldier is perhaps the hardest pain. No matter the circumstances. Fidel died heroically, helping his people, helping a stranger. He kept his promise to serve the people at all times.”Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard, Miguel Mendez, said upon hearing the news.
He jumped into the water to try to save a tourist who lost his life.
According to the facts, the man – a National Guard veteran – was at the scene Sunday night with his two 11- and 12-year-old children.
The minors reported that their father saw the person drowning, so he took off a chain and handed it to him, made the sign of the cross on himself and jumped into the sea.
The tourist, identified as Charles Victor Daniel Burr He, a resident of Illinois, was able to be rescued alive, but he later died in the hospital.