U.S. Teen Found Dead Off Costa Rica Coast

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Published on Friday, March 27, 2026

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A 16-year-old U.S. citizen from the U.S. State of Texas who went missing after being caught in a rip current has been found dead off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, authorities said Thursday.

The Red Cross reported the body of the teenager, identified by the surname Méndez, was discovered at about 8:30 a.m. near Nosara Beach in Guanacaste province.

According to Jorge Matamoros, a search and rescue operations coordinator, the body was spotted by tourists aboard a sportfishing boat traveling along the coastline.

The boat’s captain alerted the Red Cross, allowing authorities to coordinate the recovery with support from a patrol vessel operated by the National Coast Guard Service.

“Coast Guard officers recovered the body and transported it to the naval station at Caldera Beach (in Puntarenas province),” Matamoros said.

Officials said the clothing matched what Méndez was wearing when he disappeared on March 18.

The remains were later transported to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) morgue in Heredia province, where forensic experts will conduct an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.

Authorities said the body was found about 65 nautical miles from Jacó Beach in Puntarenas, where the teen had been reported missing.

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According to officials, Méndez had been at Jacó Beach with a group of friends on the day of the incident. At about 5 p.m., he and several others entered the ocean when a rip current pulled some of them out to sea. They managed to return safely to shore, but Méndez was swept farther offshore.

The Red Cross and the National Coast Guard Service conducted an extensive nine-day search operation following the incident.

The search covered a wide coastal area, including Jacó Beach, Herradura Beach and Manuel Antonio Beach, as well as surrounding locations.

The effort involved 15 specialized rescue personnel, three ground units, a maritime patrol vessel, and drone flights used to monitor hard-to-access areas and rocky formations, thereby expanding the search radius beyond the initially targeted zones, the Red Cross said.

During the search, Méndez’s parents traveled to Costa Rica to assist in efforts to locate their son.

“I'm a United States Air Force veteran; please help us find my son,” Mr. Méndez said in a video posted on social media while the teenager was still missing.

He also called on beachfront businesses, including hotels, Airbnbs and restaurants, to place greater emphasis on warning visitors about the dangers of entering the ocean after 5 p.m. and to provide alerts when hazardous conditions such as rip currents are present.

He urged Costa Rican authorities to strengthen prevention measures, including clearer beach signage and increased support for lifeguard teams to respond more quickly to emergencies.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have kept specific details of the case confidential. Only the victim’s family members are authorized to request further information.

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica provides guidance and support to families of U.S. citizens who die abroad, depending on whether relatives accompanied the deceased and whether they were visiting or living in the country.

“The Consular Section can provide information on funeral homes that arrange local burials or prepare remains for shipment to the United States,” the embassy’s website states. “The Consular Section also issues a Consular Report of Death Abroad, serving as a U.S. death certificate for legal purposes.”

The embassy noted it does not cover funeral, repatriation or burial expenses for Americans who die overseas. However, family members are not required to travel to Costa Rica to manage arrangements, as embassy representatives can coordinate with local authorities and service providers on their behalf.

For more information, individuals may contact the U.S. Embassy at 506-2519-2590 or 506-2519-2093. An after-hours emergency line is available at 506-2519-2000.

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What steps should Costa Rican authorities take to reduce drowning fatalities on their beaches? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com