A 30-year-old fisherman, named Yeferson Alejandro Otero Aceros, disappeared in the waters of the Sogamoso river in Betulia, Santander, after an accident occurred while he was fishing. The incident took place on Thursday, March 14, in the area known as Bocas de La Putana, where a creek and the river meet.

The fisherman, a member of the Bucaramanga Friends of Fishing club and a resident of the Granada neighborhood, was engaged in sport and recreational fishing activities at the time of his disappearance.

"He was fishing, and he caught a dorada, on the shore he let go, and when he went to catch it he tripped and fell backwards into the river. He stayed there and could not catch it, it is deep and did not give us time for anything, he came out once and sank," said a witness of the event.

The search for Otero's body has intensified since the day of the incident, with the cooperation of friends, relatives and members of the Santander Civil Defense. Three boats have been deployed along the Sogamoso River and assistance has been requested from the Civil Defense of Puerto Wilches, Sabana de Torres and Bucaramanga, as well as the Hidrosogamoso dam to facilitate the search efforts by lowering the level of the dam.

"Alejandro fell into the Sogamoso River this morning. We ask everyone in the area to help us in the search. Every action counts and unity is strength", was the call for help that could be found in fishing groups, according to Vanguardia.

Otero's wife provided details about the moment of the accident, indicating that her husband lost his balance while trying to pull a fish he had caught out of the water, which caused him to fall into the river. In addition, the difficulty of the search has been emphasized due to the presence of eddies in that area, which have complicated rescue efforts. It also highlighted that the people who were at the scene tried to rescue the man by throwing a fishing line.

According to a video circulating in social networks showing the moments before Otero Aceros drowned, he was pulling a fish from the river bank when he stumbled and fell into the water. In the video, recorded by a woman, a female voice can be heard desperately shouting "he can't swim... he can't swim... he can't swim... he can't swim...".

The local community and fishing enthusiasts have been dismayed by this event, while water safety experts have raised recommendations for extreme caution in areas of known danger.

"Three boats went out on the Sogamoso River. We spoke with the Civil Defense of Puerto Wilches and Sabana de Torres, with the Hidrosogamoso dam to lower the level of the dam and we have received help from the Civil Defense of Bucaramanga", said the man's wife in conversations with Vanguardia.

This unfortunate incident has highlighted the importance of caution and proper preparation when participating in water activities in rivers with potentially dangerous conditions, such as the Sogamoso River. The disappearance of Yeferson Alejandro Otero Aceros has mobilized a wide support network, including emergency professionals and volunteers, in the hope of finding answers and bringing comfort to his family and loved ones.

So far, neither the Santander rescue authorities, nor the fishing collectives or the family of the young fisherman have mentioned whether, as of 1 p.m. on March 15, they have managed to recover the body.

https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/03/15/pescador-murio-ahogado-luego-de-caer-en-un-remolino/

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