Reported Sandy hero apparently drowns

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico A tourist from New York has apparently drowned while surfing off a popular beach town in Puerto Rico.

A police statement Sunday has identified the tourist as 23-year-old Dylan Smith, whose body was found floating Sunday morning near his surfboard in waters off Maria's Beach in the western Puerto Rican community of Rincon. The town's beaches attract surfers from across the world.

Authorities say a local resident spotted Smith in the water and brought him to shore. A local doctor tried to resuscitate him but the surfer showed no signs of life.

The U.S. Caribbean territory's police are investigating the death.

People magazine dubbed Smith one of its heroes of 2012.

The magazine says Smith, a lifeguard, and another resident of Belle Harbor, in the New York City borough of Queens "ushered six people to safety with a homemade rope bridge and Smith's surfboard" during superstorm Sandy.

People says they did it as a six-foot tidal surge "roared down their block, and a fire from a gas line explosion engulfed houses around them." It quotes one of those rescued as calling Smith an "angel."

[nohater]

surfers are excellent, powerful, swimmers. hard to believe he drowned. never heard of anyone being knocked out by a surfing board. the death by drowning makes no sense.

[friendofushistory2]

Smith deserves a hero's funeral and a memorial describing his efforts to help others during Hurrican Sandy. What a tragedy that his life was lost on Christmas Eve during a well-deserved vacation. He truly was a "Sandy angel."

[Old Timer 8080]

He died doing what he liked. He probably got knocked out while on his board. He earned his stripes with his unconditional help. Our world doesn't have enough PUBLIC heroes and is not a better place because of it.

[Capecodlady]

He truly was an angel. Our heavenly father will reward him in Heaven. How sad for his family and friends. May he rest in eternal peace.

[nohater]

not being critical or mean. but how does a dead person rest in eternal peace? when a person dies, the body is just lifeless. have always wondered why people say rest in peace.

[angelofurnightmare]

So sad that a hero like him is gone...I hope his family can find peace knowing he was a wonderful man and the world is a better place because he was in it

[joesapper]

While we watch the horrors of terror in CT , we must remember the majority of us value life so much that there are those amongst us that put their own life in perial for others , Heros are always best never known due to the fact the cost of revealing a Hero has a cost that is more than we can bear, but considering those in the school in CT , as unarmed teachers and others stood between evil and children we must thank the Good LORD for the Brave amongst us and those in harms way protecting us .