Michigan art student drowns rescuing friend from riptide during Cancun vacation — posted photo by water night he died
Alejandro Gonzalez, 20, was pulled out to sea by a strong current while swimming with a group of friends at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, his heartbroken mother said.
'We held out hope, and prayed for a miracle. While the outcome wasn't what we wanted, God did answer our prayers,' Renee Gonzalez wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. 'Alejandro's body has been found, (We) are going to be able to bring our baby home.'
5 Alejandro Gonzalez poses for a photo on the beach while on vacation in Cancun, Mexico on April 20, 2025.
Facebook/Renee Gonzalez
The Saginaw, Mich. native had traveled to the Caribbean getaway with three high school friends before the tragedy occurred.
He had posed for a photo at the water's edge the night he died, his mother shared.
'The picture is from the evening he went into the water, the smile on his face reminds me how happy he was to be with his friends and spending time somewhere new. It's good to know he was so happy,' Renee Gonzalez added.
The photo captured the smiling artist giving a thumbs up to the camera while standing in the tropical water.
Gonzalez was swimming when one of his friends got caught in a riptide and the artist jumped and successfully saved her, but 'was lost in the process,' according to a GoFundMe set up for his family.
His body was recovered by officials on Wednesday after a three-day search.
5 Alejandro Gonzalez with his mother, Renee, after graduating from the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy in June 2022.
Renee Gonzalez/Facebook
5 Alejandro poses with a plate of cupcakes, celebrating an anniversary at his work.
GoFundMe
Gonzalez graduated from the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy in 2022 and had been working as a barista at a local cafe.
He was studying at the College of Creative Studies in Detroit, MLive.com reported.
'Alejandro is a talented artist as well as a wonderful friend. He lights up a room and is always up to a new project,' Heather Shephard, the fundraiser's creator, said.
'He is caring and fiercely loyal to his friends and family and isn't afraid to try new things. He is smart, has consistently high grades and high performance in everything he does.'
5 The cat-themed utility box mural painted by Gonzalez in the City of Sagniaw.
The Great Mural Project/Facebook
5 Alejandro Gonzalez's body was recovered by officials Wednesday.
GoFundMe
After graduation, Gonzalez lent his artistic skills to his community's 'Great Mural Project' in 2023, decorating a cat-themed utility box mural in the City of Sagniaw.
A makeshift memorial was set up underneath the mural to honor the artist along with a donation drive for the local animal shelter in his name.
The crowdsourcing project, initially set up to help in the search, is now being used for donations that would fund transportation costs to bring Gonzalez home to his family.
'While it looks like Matt and I won't be going to Mexico, we are going to need help with the expense to bring him home, and all of the expenses that come with a situation like this,' Renee Gonzalez said.
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