Teenager Swept Away in Río Grande, Family Pleads for More Help in Search

SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA – A family outing turned into a nightmare this past Monday when 15-year-old Carlos Daniel Rodriguez was swept away by the strong currents of the Río Grande, approximately 10 kilometers from Paurito. Three days into the search, his family holds onto hope while appealing for increased rescue efforts. The incident occurred during a family fishing trip. Carlos Daniel, along with another individual, reportedly lost their grip on the fishing net and were pulled into a deeper part of the river. While the other person managed to escape, Carlos Daniel did not resurface. His father, visibly distraught, recounted the harrowing moment, stating, "He drowned in the river, Mr. Journalist. We had gone for a day out in the countryside, and we were fishing with the net. Two had let go of the net, and when they let go, it seems they went into the deep, and one barely got out, and my son couldn't get out." Carlos Daniel's sister described him as a diligent student who had recently enrolled in the Tahuichi Academy. She added, "He loved to dance, he always danced every year. That's what my brother dedicated himself to. He was a child." Family members initiated the search immediately, doing everything possible to locate him. As hours turned into days, their initial efforts gave way to anguish and desperation. Rescue groups have joined the search, but the family is now pleading for more reinforcements to help find Carlos Daniel's body. "We need more reinforcements to help us find my son's body, please," his father implored.