Minnesota attorney, 51, drowns on vacation with his family in Puerto Rico after getting into trouble in strong currents following a surfing lesson

A loving father drowned in front of his family in Puerto Rico after a surfing lesson along a popular beach.

Benjamin “Ben” James King, 51, an attorney from New Prague, Minnesota, was at La Pared Beach in Luquillo with his family for a lesson with a professional.

After classes ended, King waded into chest-deep water and began struggling as the tide grew stronger. A tourist swam out and brought King back to shore. Three other tourists gave King CPR until doctors arrived and rushed him to the nearest hospital.

His heartbreaking obituary describes how he leaves behind a wife and two children.

“The most important thing for him was that he invested his time and talents to be the best dad ever – always present, always involved, always so proud of their achievements and who they grew up to be.”he read the obituary.

He is survived by his wife, Scott County District Court Judge Colleen G. King, and their children, Aidan and Molly.

“Their bond was a testament to love, partnership and mutual respect, and was evident to all who encountered them together,” the obituary said. “While they shared a professional love for the legal profession, together their true and amazing talents are reflected in raising their wonderful children.

King coached the girls’ sports teams and cheered on the New Prague High School Trojans.

The soon-to-be 52-year-old was born in Milwaukee and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He then went on to study law at Hamline University School of Law.

During his law career, he worked in both private practice and as a public defender.

“Ben was highly respected within the legal community, where he will be remembered for his professionalism, passion for the law, intelligence, humor, honesty, compassion for his clients and hard work.”

The family said friendships were important to King and that he enjoyed getting together for sporting events, including seeing the Green Bay Packers and the University of Wisconsin Badgers.

When not watching sports, King was an avid fisherman, having caught the bug for the hobby in his youth. He also enjoyed spending time outdoors and hunting.

“When he was in high school and college, he took fishing trips with his friends, but he would also enjoy going to his beloved Fish Lake alone to look for lunker bass – and bring home fishing stories for his family , which generally did so. I didn’t know what he was talking about, but they all knew and understood that this was one of his favorite times, he was hooked for life!’ stated his obituary.

King was always someone who never met a stranger and was happy to chat with anyone he could find.

‘He loved to tell stories or share his experiences, but even more inspiringly, he was more interested in your experiences. But if your stories weren’t comprehensive enough for him, he could take the lead and suddenly make a simple catch-up. It could extend to something much more complicated, but no one minded (most of the time!),” his family noted.

“He usually ended these conversations with a firm handshake or hug and kind words, which made you feel like this connection was very important to him — and subsequently to you.”

When he moved to New Prague, he got hooked and spent time with local friends for a March Madness rally.

“The local community is heartbroken that he is gone and will miss him dearly,” the obituary said.

King’s funeral is Friday at 12:30 p.m. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague.

According to the newspaper, King’s death marks the fifth tourist to drown on the Caribbean island this year Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

According to Puerto Rico’s local tourism authority, strong rip tides are common on some of the beaches frequented by visitors.

King’s death, along with the tourists killed by the current before him, have reignited discussions about water safety.

Local organizations on the island have called for the creation of a lifeguard corps. At least 21 people drowned in Puerto Rico last year.

El Nuevo Dia reports that Discover Puerto Rico, the main tourism website for the Caribbean island, is strengthening its initiative called ‘Watch the Waves’, with the aim of informing visitors about the maritime conditions on the island.

Ricardo Cortés Chico, a spokesperson for DMO, explained that the initiative started a year ago when other drownings were recorded in the country.

Although drownings can occur anywhere from Puerto Rico to Alaska, the majority of U.S. deaths occur in Florida, according to a 2023 study. study.