SAN BENITO — Firefighters Sunday morning found the body of a 63-year-old San Benito man who drowned in the resaca.
Israel Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene by an investigator with the Cameron County Medical Examiner’s Office.
He went missing Saturday afternoon after he was seen sitting by the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, several yards from the Stenger Street bridge. He appeared to be nursing an injured arm.
Witnesses said he fell into the water about 1:25 p.m.
Firefighters began a search from a boat, using a drag tool to drag the resaca.
Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens arrived later and also launched a boat to assist in the search.
They were joined by divers from the Brownsville Fire Department Dive Team. But after more than six hours of searching, they had not found a body. The search was suspended at sunset.
The search resumed at sunrise yesterday. San Benito firefighters in a boat found Rodriguez’s body about 7:20 a.m. near the Stenger Street bridge.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and please respect the family as they grieve during this very sad and difficult time,” the San Benito Police Department said in a statement.
