Victor Deleon Mendez dies in fatal Providence drowning incident
Fatal Providence drowning incident death of Victor Deleon Mendez
Providence authorities have officially identified the young man whose body was recovered from Lincoln Woods State Park following a tragic drowning. The 21-year-old, Victor Deleon Mendez, met his demise due to an unfortunate mishap while swimming in the park’s waters near Sunset Cove.
The unfortunate event unfolded under trying circumstances of extreme heat. Many local residents, seeking respite from the sweltering temperatures, were drawn to the area’s ponds, putting themselves at risk. Mendez was reported missing to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management around 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, after he was last seen swimming outside the safe zone monitored by lifeguards.
Subsequent search efforts by park visitors, state police, and the Lincoln Fire Department encountered difficulty due to low visibility in the water. The dedicated Lincoln Fire Department Dive Team was ultimately successful in locating Mendez’s body at approximately 8:10 p.m. The ongoing preliminary investigation points towards an accidental drowning as the cause of death, although the exact sequence of events and any contributing factors are still being examined.
Mendez’s family is reportedly devastated by their sudden loss and is now focused on the difficult task of transporting his body back to his hometown in Guatemala for proper mourning and arrangements.
