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The Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, issued a statement in the wake of Malcolm-Jamal Warner‘s drowning in Costa Rica. The actor, who was 54 years old, died of asphyxia after being caught by a high current while swimming on Sunday. No lifeguards were on duty, as their limited services had been allocated to other locations in the area, the association said.
“It was all very fast and even though there were people on the beach who came in to rescue him, they didn’t arrive in time,” the Caribbean Guard said in a statement on Facebook. The association noted that Playa Grande, where the drowning occurred, is one of its “most challenging beaches.” It has patrolled the beach for “the last few years,” and notes that “it’s a beach known by local surfers and there are signs (in English and Spanish) that warn of the danger of death by drowning.”
While there would have normally been guards on duty at Playa Grande, they were redirected to patrol Playa Black and Chiquita, two other local beaches with prominent dangerous currents that recently experienced “water incidents.” The Caribbean Guard shared that it “deeply regrets” the actor’s death, lamenting that “despite having been provided with CPR maneuvers on the beach” by locals, “his resuscitation was unsuccessful.”
While unfortunate, the Caribbean Guard sees the incident as being indicative of a larger problem across Costa Rica and other countries in the Caribbean that will persist without direct intervention. “We appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca and the entire Caribbean community,” the association wrote, “to continue joining efforts to minimize this problem, which is sadly rising all over the country.”
The volunteer group noted that “we do everything in our power,” and they have saved “numerous lives in recent years.” Without them, the statement continues, “drownings would could by the dozens.” Still, without the proper resources, their reach is limited, they wrote. “We do our part to minimize risks but if we don’t have government help, clear public policies and strong support from local entrepreneurs,” they concluded, “this will keep happening.”
