U.S. Tourist Dies Saving Friend at Cancún Beach

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The body of Alejandro González, a 20-year-old U.S. tourist who drowned while saving a friend at Chac Mool Beach in Cancún, was discovered Wednesday by swimmers in the same area where the incident occurred. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the identity, but unofficial reports indicate the remains belong to González, a recent graduate of Saginaw’s Academy of Arts and Sciences.

A Fatal Rescue Attempt

The tragedy unfolded Sunday when a group of young tourists visited the popular beach. One woman in the group began drowning after entering the water, prompting González to rush in to assist her. While he succeeded in saving her, he was unable to escape the strong currents himself and was declared missing.

At approximately 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, bystanders spotted González’s body floating near the shore and alerted authorities. The remains were transported to the Forensic Medical Service for further investigation.

Family’s Anguish and Appeal for Support

González’s parents, who remain in the U.S., have been unable to travel to Mexico due to a lack of passports and have been forced to monitor developments remotely. In a Facebook post, his mother, Renee González, expressed gratitude for the support received but acknowledged the heartbreaking outcome.

“We held onto hope and prayed for a miracle. Though the result wasn’t what we wanted, God answered our prayers. Alejandro’s body has been found, and Matt and I will be able to bring our baby home,” she wrote.

She also requested continued donations to cover repatriation and related expenses, stating, “We will still need help with the costs to bring him home and all the expenses that come with a situation like this.”

Pending Official Confirmation

Authorities are expected to formally confirm whether the recovered body is González’s in the coming hours. The incident underscores the dangers of swimming in unmonitored areas, particularly during strong currents.