A 22-year-old Indiana woman drowned while on vacation in Puerto Rico after wading into the water to rescue her girlfriend and getting caught in a strong rip current.
Cimone (Alicea) Dawson had been visiting Condado Beach in San Juan on the tropical island with his girlfriend and another friend when they suddenly got into trouble.
Dawson, from Indianapolis, wasted no time running into the ocean to try and save his girlfriend, but tragically she also got into trouble around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The U.S. Coast Guard searched for two days until they found Dawson. “submerged and unresponsive.” She was declared dead on Monday.
Cimone (Alicea) Dawson had been visiting Condado Beach in San Juan on the tropical island with his girlfriend and another friend when they suddenly got into trouble.
Dawson, from Indianapolis, wasted no time running into the ocean to try and save his girlfriend, but then got into trouble around 6:30 p.m. Sunday night.
Meanwhile, his girlfriend was rescued and helped back to shore by both authorities and local bathers.
Passersby first reported hearing screams and seeing people in distress in the water.
The Coast Guard, which searched for Dawson by air and sea, says it was local authorities who ultimately managed to find Dawson’s body.
TO GoFundMe An account has been set up to help with funeral expenses and bringing his body back to the mainland.
The 22-year-old disappeared while swimming at Condado Beach in Puerto Rico (pictured)
The U.S. Coast Guard searched for Dawson for several days until she was found “submerged and unconscious.” She was declared dead on Monday.
“That was exactly the kind of person he was,” said Dawson’s cousin, Siajhanai Wean. Washington State.
‘Even standing on that beach and watching Cimone fight his loved one, I couldn’t keep Cimone from going back into the water.
“His girlfriend was starting to drown. He ran to save her. There were other family members who were also in the water and needed help, and bystanders helped, but there were three of them in the water struggling. Bystanders pulled two of them out, and as Cimone made his way toward his girlfriend, the current swept her away,” Wean told That?
“I felt sick to my stomach. I felt like there were so many words I wish I could have said. I felt like I couldn’t breathe,” another of Dawson’s cousins told the station.
Dawson loved to travel and Puerto Rico was one of his favorite destinations. He had gone to the island with his girlfriend to celebrate a birthday.
“They’ve been there five times in the last three years. We usually travel to different places, but they love Puerto Rico. They come back constantly,” Wean said.
“I feel like my family can never get a break. Something always happens and when we adjust to it, something else happens. So I don’t think anyone was prepared for this,” she added.
Dawson loved to travel and Puerto Rico was one of his favorite destinations. He had gone to the island with his girlfriend to celebrate a birthday.
The 22-year-old went back into the water to help, but sank and never reached shore. Passersby rescued her girlfriend.
Coast Guard account X shared a National Weather Service resource with tips on how to survive a rip current.
People caught in a strong current are advised not to panic.
‘Rip currents won’t pull you underwater.’
People should not try to swim against the current, towards the beach, to escape, but rather swim out of the current, parallel to the beach.
If you cannot escape the current, try to float while shouting and signaling for help.
According to the American Lifesaving Association, about 80 percent of beach rescues each year involve rip currents.
Coast Guard account X shared a National Weather Service resource with tips for surviving a rip current.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this young woman and pray that she finds strength and gets through this difficult time,” said Commander Matthew Romano, the Coast Guard’s search and rescue mission coordinator for the case.
‘I would like to express my gratitude to the bystanders and authorities on scene for their actions that saved two lives and to all Coast Guard units and emergency response partners for their professionalism, dedication and tireless efforts during the search.’