Canadian man who disappeared after going swimming in Mexico washes up dead
A 31-year-old Canadian man has been found dead at Mexico’s Zicatela Beach in Puerto Escondido.
Braydon Bretzer was reportedly with American citizen Chris Ankele when the pair were last seen swimming in the water on Sunday, May 25, according to Mexican publication Ahora Oaxaca Noticias . Authorities said witnesses saw a current pulling them away and they drifted out to sea before disappearing, Daily Mail reported .
Ankele has been missing since Sunday, Mexican publication Milenio reported . Search and rescue efforts began later that evening .
The beach is a well-known surfing spot, per travel website Lonely Planet’s review of the location. “Nonsurfers beware: the waters here have a lethal undertow and are not safe for the boardless, or beginner surfers either,” the site warns. According to authorities, Zicatela is not suitable for swimming, “especially during swells, which cause dangerous currents and waves up to three meters high,” local publication El Tiempo reported .
In a statement to National Post, Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod said the agency “is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Mexico” and “extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”
“Consular officials are in contact with local authorities and are providing consular assistance,” said MacLeod, adding that no more information can be disclosed at this time due to privacy considerations.
On May 26, Puerto Escondido Lifeguards said there were two people missing at sea in a social media post. They cautioned beach-goers against walking along Zicatela Beach and said to avoid getting into the water. Videos shared by the account on Instagram showed white-capped waves slamming down onto the shore.
The Municipal Government of San Pedro Mixtepec said a search for the tourists was underway in the area, in a post on Facebook on May 27 around noon. It urged “tourist service providers to stay informed about the weather conditions.” It also said that locals should “avoid entering the sea” and listen to instructions from lifeguards.
Later on May 27, Mexican publication El Tiempo reported that the body of Bretzer was found at the beach. A video circulating online showed the moment his body was located by a search team, per Daily Mail .
Local authorities said search efforts for Ankele are ongoing.
Graeme Bouvier organized a GoFundMe on behalf of the Bretzer family.
“Braydon’s sudden passing has left a deep hole in the hearts of all who knew and loved him,” says the webpage.
“Braydon lived life to the fullest. He had a contagious energy, and a heart that made space for everyone. He was loved by many — he made people feel seen, valued, and cared for.” Bouvier did not immediately respond to National Post’s request for comment.
Funds are being raised to help support Bretzer’s family, going towards costs such as travel and memorial expenses. On May 30, more than $20,000 had been donated. The family said that excess funds will go to charities that Bretzer loved, such as Street Cat Rescue Program Inc., the webpage says.
A LinkedIn page for a Canadian man from Saskatoon with the same name as Bretzer shows that he was working as a marketing consultant. He attended Athabasca University, earning a bachelor’s of business degree in 2016. In his bio, he said his interests included soccer, basketball, golf and hiking. Another interest he listed was travelling, having been to “25 countries and counting.” He also said he was a “huge cat guy.”
Under a section for water activities, the Canadian federal government’s travel advisory for Mexico states: “Coastal waters can be dangerous. Riptides are common and powerful waves make swimming and water sports dangerous. Several drownings occur each year. Many beaches don’t have warning flags to indicate unsafe conditions and they don’t always have lifeguards on duty.”
There have been other fatalities at the popular Puerto Escondido beach. In April, Miguel Angel Robles, 22, drowned there, Daily Mail and news site 24.Noticias reported .
In 2019, Brazilian bodyboarder and kitesurfer Rafael Piccoli died while surfing the waves during a large swell, Surfline reported . He reportedly hit the bottom of the ocean floor, which knocked him unconscious before he drowned. Similarly, in 2021, Spanish surfer Oscar Serra also died while surfing after reportedly falling from a top wave and hitting the bottom of the sea, per Duke Surf . In 2023, 33-year-old Romanian tourist Andra Kitsu drowned, The U.S. Sun reported .
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