Santos Tiul-Chen : Tragic Youth Drowning at Church Event

ALVA, Florida – A heartbreaking incident unfolded at a lock and dam in Florida, where three young men lost their lives in a drowning accident. The victims, identified as 17-year-old Santos Tiul-Chen, 21-year-old Pedro Pascal, and 19-year-old Victor Leonardo Pedro Gaspar, were all members of the Jesus Es La Verdad Church in Fort Myers.

The community is reeling from the loss of these young individuals, who were remembered with love and fond memories during a poignant service at their church. A memorial adorned with photographs and flowers now stands as a tribute to their lives.

Neyda Velasquez, a close friend of the victims, expressed the shock and disbelief that still lingers in the aftermath of the tragic incident. According to Velasquez, a group of people had stayed behind after a church youth event at Franklin Lock and Dam to enjoy a swim, which ultimately led to the devastating turn of events.

Reflecting on the tragedy, Velasquez shared, “It’s just sad. We still can’t process it… every one of us, especially the family. Imagine you see your son leave in the morning, and you’re waiting for him to come back and he never does. So, yeah, it’s kind of difficult to process. We still can’t believe it’s true.”

She fondly recalled seeing one of the victims just a week prior to the incident, highlighting the sudden and devastating nature of their untimely passing.

Velasquez described the victims as “sweet young gentlemen that were dedicated to the work of our Lord Jesus,” emphasizing their strong faith and commitment to their church community.

Tragic Turn of Events

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident unfolded when Tiul-Chen, who lacked swimming experience, entered the water at the lock and found himself in distress. Reports indicate that the water depth in the area was around 10 feet.

In a valiant effort to rescue Tiul-Chen, Pascal jumped into the water but soon encountered difficulties himself. Gaspar bravely swam to the aid of his friends, but tragically, all three young men went under the water and did not resurface.

Despite the best efforts of emergency responders who performed life-saving measures on the victims at the scene, none of them could be saved.

Acts of Heroism

Velasquez praised the courage and selflessness of the victims, noting that two of them knew how to swim and heroically rushed to help their friend in need. She remarked, “It’s actually something heroic. They did it to try to save their friend that was drowning, but it all sadly ended in tragedy, trying to save their one loved friend.”

A fourth person who attempted to assist the victims managed to survive the ordeal. The identity of this individual has not been disclosed at this time.

Safety Measures Implemented

In light of the tragic incident, the Army Corps of Engineers has installed new signs in English and Spanish at the site, clearly stating, “No swimming.” These measures aim to prevent similar accidents and ensure the safety of visitors to the area.