All victims identified in the Franklin Lock Park drowning

Reporter: Amy Galo
Published: Updated:
Franklin Lock Park drowning

Authorities have released the identities of all three Franklin Lock Park drowning victims.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, 21-year-old Pedro Miguel Pascual, 17-year-old Santos Tiul-Chen and 19-year-old Victor Pedro-Gaspar drowned in the 10-foot deep water on Saturday.

21-year-old Victor Ixcoy-Perez, a friend of the three victims, was with them at Franklin Lock Park.

Ixcoy-Perez couldn’t remember which of his friends, but one of the three said they were going to let go of the rope they were tethered to.

He said when his friend let go of the rope, they sank to the bottom of the water.

Ixcoy-Perez could not remember when the victims went underwater. All he could remember was not being able to find any of them.

LCSO says Tiul-Chen, who did not have any swimming experience, began struggling after going into the water.

In an attempt to help Tiul-Chen, Pascual went into the water but also began struggling.

Pedro-Gaspar went into the water to help Tiul-Chen and Pascual.

Tiul-Chen, Pedro-Gaspar, and Pascual never resurfaced from the 10-foot-deep waters.

Later, Ixcoy-Perez went into the water to assist the three individuals but was able to get back to shore. He was transported to the hospital.

According to the Stop Drowning Now organization, drowning is fast and silent, and it is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide. It can happen in as little as 20 to 60 seconds.

*This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the survivor’s name.

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