Man drowns off Garciems beach as strong currents claim life; eyewitnesses describe deadly conditions

A man aged about 40 drowned at Garciems beach on Sunday, attributed to strong winds and dangerous rip currents. The incident was reported by the broadcast "Degpunktā".

At the time of the accident, the sea featured large waves and a strong pull into the depths, according to eyewitness accounts. Several beachgoers who had been in the water before the tragedy had stopped swimming due to the hazardous conditions.

A local resident said he had been in the sea with his children shortly before the incident. He suddenly felt waves coming from different directions and noticed a powerful pull. He immediately took the children out of the water and went home. Later, seeing an ambulance rushing toward the beach, the family learned that a man had been pulled from the water at that very spot.

The victim was retrieved from the sea using a paddleboard by a neighbor who had himself left the water just before, feeling the dangerous waves. The rescuer's wife heard only a brief cry for help, and shortly after, the man was seen helplessly struggling in the waves before disappearing underwater. Emergency medical service personnel were unable to save his life.