22-year-old man dies after falling into ocean during argument with friends on a boat

A video circulating on social media has captured the final moments of 22-year-old Alexander Avendaño Varela before he fell into a reservoir during a boat outing with friends in Colombia.

According to reports, the incident occurred on May 24 at the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir in Guatapé, one of Colombia’s most popular tourist attractions.

Footage from the scene showed a group of young people onboard a boat as an argument appeared to break out among several passengers. During the confrontation, Alexander could be seen standing on a narrow section of the deck near a damaged basin while voices were heard shouting in the background.

The video also appeared to show that several people onboard were not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.

As tensions escalated, Alexander was seen near the edge of the vessel. Witnesses reported that he appeared cornered during the dispute. A young woman could also be seen holding a pair of jeans shortly before a physical altercation reportedly broke out involving Alexander and other partygoers.

Moments later, the visibly distressed young man went over the boat’s railing and into the water.

The footage showed him struggling to stay afloat as he waved his arms for help before eventually disappearing beneath the surface. No immediate rescue attempt was visible in the video.

Following the incident, authorities launched a large-scale search and recovery operation. Reports indicate that at least 14 divers were deployed to the reservoir, where they conducted extensive underwater searches.

Days later, Alexander’s body was recovered from the water.

The Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, which spans more than 2,262 hectares and reaches depths of approximately 45 metres (148 feet), is one of Colombia’s most visited recreational and tourism destinations, attracting thousands of visitors each year for boating and water activities.

See vide below………

22-year-old man drowns after friends push him into the ocean during arguments pic.twitter.com/bP5lyuLWk1

— Iamelizabeth (@elizabethblogng) June 1, 2026