(CNN Spanish) — A teacher from South Florida died this weekend on a beach in El Salvador following saving her son who had been trapped by an ocean current, according to local media, including CNN affiliate WPLG.
“As a mother, she ran to try to get him out. Her son made it to shore, she didn’t,” Ignacio Rodriguez, principal at Cutler Bay High School, where the woman, identified as Michelle Vargas, worked as a teacher, told WPLG on Tuesday. of special education.
In a statement sent to CNN on Wednesday, Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent José Dotres said, “We are devastated to learn of the tragic loss of a beloved and respected teacher who has contributed to the lives of the students of Cutler Bay Middle School for nearly a decade.”
“On behalf of all of us at Miami-Dade County Public Schools, we extend our deepest condolences to the Vargas family during this difficult time,” added Dotres.
The media in El Salvador, citing the National Civil Police (PNC), reported that Vargas lost her life on Sunday followingnoon on a beach in the department of La Paz, when she and three other people were swept away by a sea current. According to reports, the other three people were rescued.
CNN is trying to obtain more details of the incident with the PNC and local authorities, and has requested additional information from the United States Embassy in El Salvador, but as of Wednesday, no response has been received from the entities.
CNN is also trying to contact Vargas’ relatives in Florida for more details regarding the incident.
Ana María Mejía and Merlin Delcid contributed to this report