MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A bodyless head discovered on a South Florida beach has been identified as Victor Enrique Castaneda Jr., a 19-year-old swimmer who went missing while attempting to save his younger sister from a rip current, authorities confirmed.
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Disappearance and Search Efforts
Castaneda was reported missing on November 9 after being caught in a rip current near a jetty at South Point Beach in Miami Beach. Despite extensive search efforts by local officials and the U.S. Coast Guard, he was not located.
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Three days later, on November 12, a beach worker in Key Biscayne, a barrier island off Miami, discovered a man’s head washed ashore. On Friday, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner identified the remains as belonging to Castaneda. The cause and manner of death have not yet been released.
Tragic Sequence of Events
According to family members, Castaneda and his sister were swimming when they were caught in a rip current. A bystander managed to rescue the girl, but Castaneda disappeared before further assistance could reach him.
A Beloved Brother and Son
Castaneda was one of eight siblings, remembered for his kindness and selflessness. The family continues to receive an outpouring of community support as they mourn their loss.
The tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of rip currents and the heroic risks taken in moments of crisis.
