U.S. citizen missing in Jaco Beach is Rhode Island police officer

Rescuers in Jaco Beach continue to search for Richard Jean-Georges, a Rhode Island police officer. (Courtesy WJAR-TV / NBC 10)

June 9th, 2015 (InsideCostaRica.com) A U.S. citizen missing in the waters of Costa Rica’s Jaco Beach since Saturday is a 30-year-old Bristol, Rhode Island police officer identified as Richard Jean-Georges.

His father, Manny Jean-Georges Sr., told NBC 10, a television station in Providence, Rhode Island that his son was in Costa Rica to celebrate a cousin’s birthday.

“I pray that nobody else ever has to deal with this because this is the worst thing we’ve ever dealt with,” said Manny, who flew to Costa Rica with his wife on Monday to help with search efforts.

Manny went on to say that Jean-George and his other son were pulled away by a rip current while swimming. While his younger son was rescued, Jean-Georges is still missing.

“They decided to go swimming at the hotel at the beach where they were staying at,” Manny said.

The Costa Rican Red Cross and the Costa Rican Coast Guard are continuing the search.

A California man, 33-year-old Ibrahim Sam Karadsheh, lost his life at the same beach last month after a powerful riptide swept the man at least two nautical miles offshore.

Rescuers continue the search for U.S. citizen Richard Jean-Georges at Jaco Beach. (Photo courtesy of the Red Cross)