Michigan Student's Mom Shares Chilling Final Photo of Him Posing by Ocean Before He Drowned in a Riptide
The 20-year-old died after trying to rescue a friend from a riptide
Alejandro was a junior at College of Creative Studies in Detroit and a graduate from Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
A student from Michigan has died after attempting to rescue a friend from a riptide in Mexico.
According to Michigan Live, 20-year-old College of Creative Studies in Detroit junior, Alejandro Gonzalez, had been missing after swimming in Cancun with high school friends on Sunday, April 20.
After helping save a pal who was pulled away by a riptide, Alejandro was swept away by the strong current.
Per the outlet, his family was told by officials on Wednesday, April 23, that they had found his body.
'We held out hope, and prayed for a miracle. While the outcome wasn't what we wanted, God did answer our prayers,' Alejandro's mother Renee Gonzalez, said on Facebook on Wednesday. 'Alejandro's body has been found, Matt and I are going to be able to bring our baby home.'
PEOPLE has contacted the Cancun Police and the College of Creative Studies for comment.
Related: West Virginia Father's Body Pulled from Lake After He Rescued His Son: 'Terrible Tragedy'
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She added, 'Thank you all again for all the love and support. We are going to continue to accept donations, while it looks like Matt and I won't be going to Mexico, we are going to need help with the expense to bring him home, and all of the expenses that come with a situation like this.'
Renee also shared a photo of the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy graduate posing by the water moments before his death.
In the snap, the young man appeared in good spirits as he smiled and held two thumbs up.
'The picture is from the evening he went into the water, the smile on his face reminds me how happy he was to be with his friends and spending time somewhere new,' Renee wrote. 'It's good to know he was so happy.'
Related: Missing Mother Found Dead After Jumping into California River to Rescue Daughter
According to a GoFundMe page set up for the artist's family, Alejandro was 'a talented artist as well as a wonderful friend.'
'He lights up a room and is always up to a new project,' the description read. 'He is caring and fiercely loyal to his friends and family and isn't afraid to try new things. He is smart, has consistently high grades and high performance in everything he does.'
So far, $8,158 has been achieved out of the $10,000 GoFundMe goal. The funds will be used to help the Gonzalez family bring Alejandro's body back home.
"Along with being a wonderful human being, Alejandro was graduate of Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, and an artist who painted the cat-themed utility box mural shown in the pictures for The Great Mural Project in 2023,' Riverfront Saginaw wrote in a Facebook post of their former student.
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