COASTGUARD HUNTS MISSING US MARINE, 26, WHO VANISHED WHILE SWIMMING AT PUERTO RICO BEACH - JUST HOURS AFTER AMERICAN TOURIST DIED WHILE TRYING TO RESCUE HIS CHILDREN FROM DANGEROUS SURF

Samuel Wanjiru, 26, was swept out to sea at at La Pared Beach in Luquillo
He disappeared hours after a father died while saving his teen daughters who were swept out to sea
Officials in Puerto Rico warned of strong currents producing waves up to 12 feet high

The Coastguard is desperately searching for a U.S. Marine who vanished while swimming at a Puerto Rico beach.

Samuel Wanjiru, 26, was swept out to sea at at La Pared Beach in Luquillo on Wednesday.

The rescue mission was launched just hours after another American tourist died while trying to save his children from dangerous surf.

The father, who has not been publicly identified, managed to save his teen daughters before he succumbed to the strong currents at Montones Beach in Isabela.

Wanjiru, from Worcester, Massachusetts, was standing on a reef when a huge wave knocked him into the water at around 4 pm.

Video shows rescuers in helicopters and on jet skis frantically combing the area where the marine was last spotted.

It come as officials in Puerto Rico warned that the current is particularly strong at the moment, with waves reaching up to 12 feet high.

By Thursday, six rescue missions had been launched in the space of just 48 hours.

The surf was so strong that the search for Wanjiru had to be temporarily paused.

'This month has been deadly when it comes to beach drownings in the area of Puerto Rico,' Capt. Jose E. Díaz, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan said.

'People need to realize that the situation is serious enough to limit our ability to respond to search and rescue cases with surface vessels without further endangering our crews and assets.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones to the sea, we hope they find strength during this most difficult time.'

He noted that most beaches in Puerto Rico do not have lifeguards and that conditions are 'extremely dangerous' at the moment.

The National Weather Service in San Juan Puerto Rico has advised of High-Surf, Small-Craft and Life-Threatening Rip Current Advisories for eastern, northern, and western beaches in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through the weekend.

Wanjiru is a reserve Marine assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 472, Marine Aircraft Group 49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, in Chicopee.

He served as a motor vehicle operator with MWSS-472 and was not on active duty, WCVB reports.

On Wednesday, Coast Guard watch standers received a call from a 911 emergency service operator reporting a person in distress in the water in Luquillo, Puerto Rico.

They directed the launch of an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to search.

Search efforts continued Thursday with a forward deployed HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, and MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters from Air Station Borinquen.

Multiple Office of Emergency Management Offices in the area, Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau, Puerto Rico Police are also actively searching, according to the Coast Guard.

It came just hours after the American tourist was plucked from the waters unresponsive and later declared deceased.

2024-03-29T14:01:05Z dg43tfdfdgfd