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Press Release | Dec. 19, 2024

Coast Guard, local emergency response teams search for swimmer off Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard air and surface rescue teams continue searching alongside local emergency authorities for a missing swimmer off Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico, Thursday.

Missing is Brandon Smith, a U.S. citizen in his sixties, from Connecticut residing in Culebra, who reportedly was last seen struggling while in the water at Flamenco Beach.  A Kawasaki Mule All-Terrain Vehicle, reportedly being used by the swimmer was found by local authorities at the scene.

Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received an initial notification at 5:45 p.m., Wednesday, reporting the swimmer beset by weather. A Good Samaritan entered the water with a surfboard and left it near the swimmer before returning to shore due to deteriorated sea-state conditions on-scene. Sector San Juan watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen to search, issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and alerted Puerto Rico Emergency Management and Puerto Rico Police authorities of the developing situation. Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine units and state and municipal Emergency Management rescue personnel also responded and are conducting search efforts on-scene.

Agencies and units participating in the search:

  • U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen
  • U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft
  • Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau
  • Culebra Municipal Office of Emergency Management and Police
  • Puerto Rico Joint Forces of Rapid Action

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