ALVA, Fla. — Two teens and a man lost their lives after drowning in the Caloosahatchee River near Franklin Lock Park over the weekend, according to reports.
Victor Pedro Gaspar, 19, and Pedro Miguel Pascual, 21, drowned Saturday after attempting to rescue 17-year-old Santos Tiul-Chen from the water at the W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area, according to the Fort Myers-News Press.
A fourth person reportedly attempted to rescue all three people but had to return to shore before being hospitalized, the the Lee County Sheriff's Office told the outlet. NBC 2 in Fort Myers says that person survived.
The park was shut down last Saturday but has since reopened. As a result of the drownings, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers added several restrictions at the park, one of them prohibiting swimming at W.P. Franklin South until better safety practices are implemented.
NBC 2 said the water depth in the area where the three drowned is around 10 feet. The news station added that several signs from the Army Corps of Engineers state that the area has a no-swimming policy.
According to Recreation.gov, the W.P. Franklin Recreation Area is a popular spot for boating, canoeing, and other outdoor activities.
"Temporary signs have been placed throughout the recreation area in English and Spanish," Amanda Parker, U.S. Army Corps deputy chief of corporate communications said in a release. "Rangers and volunteers have increased patrols along the shoreline."
At this time, NBC 2 says the sheriff's office is continuing to work with the medical examiner to notify the next of kin for all three victims.
