QCOSTARICA – An American identified as Brian Gum, 33, drowned Saturday afternoon after he was swept by wave in Playa Dominicalito, Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast.
Gum was in the water with two friends, in the area of Rocas de Amancio, confirmed the Cruz Roja (Red Cross).
One of the two friends was able to get out of the water on his own, while the woman identified as Dana Hileman, 38, was helped out by several other swimmers. Hileman was taken to the Hospital Tomás Casas, apparently swallowing a lot of water and bruises.
Felix Araya, paramedic of the Cuidad Cortes Red Cross, told La Nacion that Gum, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, had no vital signs when he was pulled from the water.
Unconfirmed reports say Gum had arrived in Costa Rica that Saturday morning.
In 2015 there were some 100 fatal drownings, the majority involving strong under currents known as rip tides.
