A 22-year-old individual tragically drowned in a reservoir after reportedly being pushed off a boat during a confrontation at a party. The incident occurred on May 24 when Alexander Avendaño Varela embarked on a party boat at the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir in Guatapé, Colombia. What was supposed to be a joyous outing turned into a calamity as video footage captured a disturbance among a group of young celebrants for unknown reasons.
The situation escalated with pushing and yelling, leading to Alexander being cornered at the edge of the deck without his trousers and shoes. Amid a scuffle, he was pushed over the railing into the water while struggling to stay afloat. Unfortunately, no one on board attempted a rescue, and the boat continued its journey.
Following the incident, a search operation involving 14 divers was initiated, facing challenges due to deep waters and poor visibility. Several days later, Alexander’s body was recovered. Authorities are investigating the circumstances and potential criminal charges related to the incident, as voices in the video suggested ignorance of Alexander’s swimming abilities and disturbing remarks.
Despite safety regulations mandating life jackets on tourist boats, none of the individuals aboard were seen wearing them. The Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, a popular tourist spot in Colombia spanning over 2,262 hectares with depths of up to 45m (148ft), has a troubling history of drownings, with an estimated 50 incidents over the past decade, leading to a ban on swimming.
Investigators are actively gathering accounts from witnesses present at the party, seeking to understand the sequence of events that led to the tragic outcome.
