Day 3: Still no results

The search for 14-year-old Bradley Delos Santos, the teenage boy who was swept out to sea last Saturday, entered Day 3 yesterday with no new leads on the victim.

Department of Public Safety spokesperson Fred Sato told Saipan Tribune yesterday that, as of press time, the search and rescue teams have no new leads on the whereabouts of Delos Santos, who was dragged out to sea at Marine Beach in Kagman last Saturday.

Saipan Tribune also learned from reliable sources that the search concluded yesterday, as per standard procedures for search and rescue operations, but DPS has yet to confirm and officially call off the search. Standards dictate that a search be called off after 72 hours or three days.

Agencies who came out to help in the search and rescue mission included the Department of Public Safety, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Customs and Biosecurity, Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, the U.S Coast Guard, and private diving companies.

Agencies that participated in the search for Delos Santos exhausted all resources including boats, divers, and a helicopter.

“We [had] five boats from different agencies like Customs and Border Protection, Customs and Biosecurity, BECQ, DPS Boating Safety, and Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services rescue boat [plus] the U.S Coast Guard cutter. We also conduct[ed] dives. We employed divers to search the waters and the U.S Coast Guard helicopter [was] also deployed,” Sato said.

According to a previous article on Saipan Tribune, Delos Santos, his brother, and two friends decided to go to Marine Beach last Saturday afternoon without letting their parents know.

Saipan Tribune learned that the boys were making their way to the Marine Beach infinity pool—which is deep into Marine Beach waters—when a large wave crashed into them and dragged them into the open ocean. Fortunately, three of the boys managed to climb a nearby rock but Delos Santos struggled to swim.

The victim’s brother went back into the water to try and help his brother and even managed to grab hold of Delos Santos’ hand, but another wave came and crashed into the two boys, splitting them up.

Unfortunately, when Delos Santos’ brother came back up, the victim was nowhere in sight.