Teen swimmer, 14, still missing

Photo shows a stretch of Marine Beach in Kagman. Inset shows a couple of police vehicles of those who are taking part in the search. (KIMBERLY B. ESMORES)

The 14-year-old swimmer who was dragged out to sea at Marine Beach in Kagman last Saturday remains missing and the search for him continues.

Local and federal search and rescue teams went back to Marine Beach yesterday to resume the search for 14-year-old Bradley Delos Santos, who was swept out to sea last Saturday following a beach day gone wrong.

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, Customs and Border Protection, Customs and Biosecurity, Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, the U.S Coast Guard, and private diving companies.

DPS spokesperson Fred Sato told media partners yesterday afternoon that the search is now on Day 2 without any new leads on Delos Santos.

“We currently have resources out in the water. We have 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,” he said. “We are also conducting dives right now. We have employed divers to search the waters and the U.S Coast Guard helicopter has also been deployed. We have not recovered anything. There [are] no signs that could lead us to the discovery of the missing victim. But we are continuing with the search.”

Sato said the rough conditions of Marine Beach yesterday was similar to last Saturday’s when the victim and three other boys went to swim at the popular infinity pool within the beach.

“The conditions you see right now were similar to last Saturday’s conditions, but Saturday was a bit more rough, which is why we did not employ divers then. But we have divers out there now and this is taking a chance, given the current conditions. DPS Boating Safety boats were deployed immediately after the call was made but it did take some time to get to the area as the only launching area is the Smiling Cove Marina, factoring in the rough waters. It took some time to get here,” Sato said.

Sato said that, although the search and rescue teams are not aware when the search will be called off, they will continue to search until given orders to stop. Standard search and rescue procedure dictates that, after four or five days of searching, agencies have to call off the search.

“I just want to say, if you know it’s not safe and if you see the waters are rough, don’t take your chances by going into the water. It takes just a split second for tragedy to happen. Have fun, but we encourage everyone out there to be mindful of the weather and ocean conditions before doing so,” he said.

The victim’s father, Jerome Delos Santos, described his son as a very quiet, humble, intelligent, and “overall just a good kid.”

“I’m in disbelief that this is happening to my family. It’s very painful to sit here and wait for results from the search. As time goes by, the more painful it gets with no answers. All we can do right now is pray for them to find our son. Just sitting here, looking at the water, it’s painful. We’ve been here since Saturday afternoon,” he said.

“To all the kids out there, if you see the waters are really rough, please don’t go in. Your parents, your family will feel the pain that we are going through right now. We are all trying our best to stay strong, but it is so hard. Losing a child is very hard. Parents, please take care of your kids and tell them not to get into [rough water]. You don’t want to go through this kind of pain,” he added.

Delos Santos stated that his two sons, one of them being the victim, and two of their friends had decided to go to Marine Beach last Saturday afternoon without letting their parents know.

“They knew if they had asked me, I would’ve said no because these waters are known to be rough,” he added.

He said that, as recounted to him by his other son, 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.

“While they were walking to the pool, a large wave slammed into them and took all of them out to sea. Fortunately, three of the boys managed to climb a nearby rock but Bradley, struggled to swim,” he said.

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

“When my son came back up, his brother, Bradley, was gone. The current was too strong and my son is traumatized. I have to remind him every day that he did his best to try and save his brother and that it’s not his fault. I can’t imagine if I had lost two sons that day,” Delos Santos said.