A 52-year old man from the United States passed away in Las Playitas, a coastal community located in Quepos, in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

 

According to a news report filed by Alexander Mendez of daily tabloid Diario Extra, Ajit R Abhyankar had been in Costa Rica about a week when he drowned in a strong rip current. The unfortunate incident took place on Thursday.

 

Mr. Abhyankar, who was born in India but became a naturalized citizen of the United States, was with friends and relatives at Las Playitas when he entered the ocean and was caught in a rip current. His family and friends were not able to help him out of the current; they sought help from beachgoers who contacted the National Coast Guard Service and the Red Cross. Rescuers located him several hours later; the rip current took him far out to sea.

 

The sadly departed Mr. Abhyankar had already spent a few days exploring Manuel Antonio National Park before the Pacific Ocean took his life. Public records indicate that he had lived in South Florida and Texas.

 

As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, dangerous rip currents can be found in many of the Pacific Ocean beaches. These treacherous currents are known to move as fast as 2.7 meters per second. Las Playitas is not particularly known for strong rip currents; however, it is sometimes included in the advisories issued by the Sea State Observatory of Costa Rica (Spanish acronym: RONMAC).

 

The RONMAC lists the following beaches as the most commonly affected by strong rip currents in Costa Rica:

• Tortuga
• Camaronal
• Manuel Antonio
• Hermosa
• Gandoca
• Ballena
• Dominical
• Bandera
• Bejuco
• Palo Seco
• Danta
• Tamarindo
• Avellanas

The Costa Rica Star herewith extends condolences to the family of  Mr. Abhyankar. May he rest in eternal peace.