Twenty-four-year-old fisherman remembered as son, brother, uncle, and friend

The rough waters claimed the life of a 24-year-old fisherman at family beach over the weekend. 

The young man was spearfishing off the Piti waters when he never returned to shore on Saturday. 

Search crews recovered the body about 50-feet below the surface just before 8 a.m. Sunday. 

A Guam Fire Department vessel brought his body to the Hagatña Marina before taking him to the Guam Memorial Hospital.

Loved ones identified him as Roque Ray Santos from the village of Yigo. 

Santos was a son, brother, uncle and friend.

He was also a graduate of Simon Sanchez High School from the class of 2018.

Search and rescue efforts started around 5 p.m. Saturday and included first responders with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam, the Navy's HSC-25 and police with the Port Authority of Guam.

Officers with the Guam Police Department also responded to the scene to investigate.

The tragic end has even these experienced fishermen warning of the rough seas. 

“We checked the water first because it’s dangerous. The water will take your life. It takes lives all the time,” said Florentino Molo, fisherman. 

“One of my friends was found underneath, maybe like 8 feet deep,” said Er Pascual, another fisherman.  

Molo and Pascual have been fishing for over 40 years. 

They’ve seen firsthand how dangerous the waters can get. 

“We stay here on the shore, not out there on the water. Just here. That’s why we have the rod and reel,” added Pascual. 

But if you do venture out, Pascual advises, “Inspect the water first and then just be careful.”

Meantime, the national weather service issued a rip current warning in effect for east facing reefs until 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. 

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense also remind the community that rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore and into deep water.

 The U.S. Air Force also expressed their condolences, confirming that Santos was a senior airman and worked as a Fuels Service Center Controller assigned to the 36th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo.

Their full statement can be viewed below.