27-year-old Columbus, Indiana man Edgar Garay fell 70 feet to his death from a cliff near a lighthouse in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. He was reportedly recording a TikTok video at the time.
WTHR says Edgar and a cousin were sightseeing when Garay ventured close to the edge of the cliff. The U.S. Coast Guard and Puerto Rico Emergency Bureau located his body on Jan. 30.
His family said he was an enthusiastic man who loved making TikTok clips.
"My brother has a TikTok account that he loved to upload videos to," said Carlos Garay. "Unfortunately, that was what he was trying to do when he was closer to the edge than he should have been."
The cousin reportedly cautioned Edgar not to get too close to the edge, but when he looked back, he was gone. The search for his body started on Sunday, and ended when he was recovered from an underwater cave the following day. He sustained massive head injuries in the fall, according to his brother.
"It’s very unfortunate because he's not very well known over there," said Carlos. "He was just visiting. So, for him to be laid and his final resting place somewhere miles upon miles away from here is just awful and devastating."
Garay has since set up a GoFundMe to cover the costs of brother’s funeral.
"We express our most heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Edgar Garay and pray they find closure and strength during this most difficult time,” said Capt. José E. Díaz, Coast Guard Sector San Juan commander. “We appreciate the efforts of all the Coast Guard, Puerto Rico Police and partner agency emergency responders, especially the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau dive unit who was able to locate Mr. Garay’s body in such a highly inaccessible and challenging environment.”
