A  54-year-old Canadian tourist died at a private beach, Playa La Barqueta in Chiriqui on Sunday afternoon, December 15 after rescuing two drowning women.

John Bannerman, , was staying in one of the hotels located on this tourist beach in the province of Chiriquí when, , he saw that his sister and a friend who accompanied him were drowning and dived into the water to save them.

He threw them a surfing board which they clung to and got safely out of the sea. But Bannerman according to witnesses was exhausted and drowned.

The body was recovered by Civil Protection(Sinaproc),  and  National Aeronaval Service (Senan) personnel.

Sinaproc warned the population to take preventive measures when they go to  private spas, rivers, and beaches which do not have lifeguards