A 22-year-old Indiana woman drowned while vacationing in Puerto Rico when she entered the water to save her friend and was caught in a strong rip current.
Cimone (Alicea) Dawson was visiting Condado Beach in San Juan on the tropical island with her girlfriend and another friend when they suddenly found themselves in trouble.
Dawson, from Indianapolis, immediately ran into the sea to save her friend, but unfortunately found herself in trouble around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evening.
The U.S. Coast Guard searched for two days until they found Dawson “submerged and unresponsive.” She was pronounced dead Monday.
Cimone (Alicea) Dawson was visiting Condado Beach in San Juan on the tropical island with her girlfriend and another friend when they suddenly got into trouble
Dawson, from Indianapolis, wasted no time running into the sea to save her friend, but then got into trouble herself around 6:30 p.m. Sunday night
Meanwhile, her friend was rescued and helped back to shore by both authorities and local beachgoers.
Bystanders reported first hearing screams and seeing people in distress in the water.
According to the Coast Guard, which searched for Dawson by air and sea, it was ultimately local authorities who found Dawson’s body.
A GoFundMe An account has been set up to help with funeral costs and to return her body to the mainland.
The 22-year-old disappeared while swimming at Condado Beach in Puerto Rico (photo)
The U.S. Coast Guard searched for several days until they found Dawson “submerged and unresponsive.” She was pronounced dead Monday
“That was just the type of person she was,” Dawson’s cousin, Siajhanai Wean, told WSAZ.
‘Even though I was on that beach and saw Cimone wrestling her lover, I couldn’t stop Cimone from getting back into the water.
“Her friend started to drown. She ran over to save her friend. There were other family members in the water that needed to be rescued, who were helping bystanders, but there were three of them that were struggling in the water. The two of them got hold of the bystanders, and as Cimone was running to her friend, the current took her away,” Wean explained to WATHR.
“I felt sick. I felt like there were so many words I wanted to say. I felt like I couldn’t breathe,” another of Dawson’s cousins told the station.
Dawson loved to travel and Puerto Rico was one of her favorite destinations. She had gone to the island with her girlfriend to celebrate a birthday.
“They’ve been there five times in the last three years. We usually travel to different places, but they love Puerto Rico. They go back all the time,” Wean said.
“I feel like my family never gets a break. Every time something happens, and as we adjust to that, something else happens. So I don’t think anyone was prepared for this,” she added.
Dawson loved to travel and Puerto Rico was one of her favorite destinations. She had gone to the island with her girlfriend to celebrate a birthday
The 22-year-old went back into the water to help, but was pulled under and never made it back to shore. Bystanders rescued her friend
The Coast Guard’s X account shared a National Weather Service resource with advice on how to survive a rip current.
If you find yourself in a strong current, it is advisable not to panic.
‘Mud currents don’t pull you under water.’
People should not try to swim against the current, towards the beach, to escape – but should swim against the current, parallel to the beach.
If you cannot escape the current, try to stay afloat while calling for help and waving.
According to the United States Lifesaving Association, approximately 80 percent of beach rescues each year involve rip currents.
The Coast Guard’s X account shared a National Weather Service source with advice on surviving a rip current.
“We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of this young woman and pray that they find strength and closure during this difficult time,” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, coordinator of the Coast Guard Search and Rescue mission for the case.
‘I would like to express my appreciation to the bystanders and the authorities on the scene for their actions which saved two lives. I would also like to express my appreciation to all the Coast Guard units and emergency partners for their professionalism, dedication and tireless efforts during the search.’