A young partygoer has tragically drowned in a reservoir after being allegedly forced over the edge of a boat following a scuffle. Alexander Avendaño Varela, 22, boarded a party boat at the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir in Guatapé, Colombia on May 24, but what should have been a fun trip ended in disaster.
Disturbing footage shows an altercation taking place on board among a large group of young revellers. The group were pushing and shouting, and at one point, Alexander appeared to be cornered at the edge of the deck, missing his trousers and trainers. A scuffle broke out between him and other partygoers, but seconds later, the visibly frightened young man went over the railing and plunged into the water.
Struggling to swim, he thrashed his arms around before sinking beneath the surface moments later. Nobody jumped in to try and rescue Alexander, and the boat continued on its route. A large search operation involving at least 14 divers was launched, but deep water and poor visibility hampered efforts. Alexander's body was recovered several days later.
Since the clip emerged on social media, authorities have been working to determine whether anyone could face criminal charges. In the footage, people could be heard warning that Alexander, originally from Medellín, did not know how to swim, while others shouted: 'Drown him!' None of those on board appeared to be wearing life jackets, despite mandatory safety requirements on tourist boats due to a history of drowning incidents in the area.
The Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, which covers more than 2,262 hectares and reaches depths of up to 45 metres, is one of Colombia's best-known tourist destinations. Around 50 people are believed to have drowned in the reservoir over the past decade, and swimming is banned. Investigators continue to gather testimonies from those who attended the party.
