Athlete drowns at Mar Azul beach in Puerto Cabello

A 17-year-old weightlifting athlete, Daiver Josué Ibarra Pirela, drowned on Saturday, September 19, at Mar Azul beach in the Gañango area of Puerto Cabello, Carabobo state.

Ibarra, a resident of Cocorote, Yaracuy, had traveled to the coast on an excursion. Reports indicate he had only recently arrived at the beach when he entered the water and subsequently disappeared. Following an alert from his companions, rescue teams including the National Bolivarian Police, municipal and state police, firefighters, and Civil Protection conducted a search. His body was recovered later that afternoon.

The deceased was a competitive weightlifter who had participated in national games in the under-13 and under-15 categories. His body was transported to the morgue at the Dr. Adolfo Prince Lara Hospital, where forensic specialists will perform an autopsy to officially confirm the cause of death. Some witnesses expressed concerns regarding the response time of the rescue services.