By: Vive Caba Editorial Staff
What began as an afternoon of recreation on the Uruguayan coast almost ended in tragedy. After hours of anguish and a search that lasted throughout the early morning, the authorities confirmed the discovery of Daniel Criscithe 58-year-old Argentine tourist who had disappeared on Thursday while sailing on his jet ski in Punta del Este.
The rescue operation
The alert was activated yesterday afternoon, when Crisci set sail from the area of Portezuelo and, as night fell, he did not return to the coast. Given the lack of news, the Prefecture of the Port of Maldonado began an exhaustive search and rescue (SAR) operation that remained active under conditions of reduced visibility.
The deployment was supported by a Naval Aviation aircraft, Uruguayan Navy vessels and the use of drones equipped with thermal technology. Finally, the man was located this Friday morning in the area of the Stop 5 of Brava Beachnext to the Zorba parador.
Health status and details of the discovery
According to official sources, at the time of the encounter, Crisci was on board his jet ski. Although he was initially somewhat reluctant to leave his vehicle to board the rescue boat, he finally accepted the assistance of the troops.
Once on dry land, he was immediately treated by a mobile emergency unit. «He is in good general condition, although he was transferred to a healthcare center for a more in-depth evaluation due to the time he was exposed to the weather and the sea,» indicated the Uruguayan authorities.
A summer with your guard up
This incident adds to a series of alerts that have been registered on the eastern coast during the 2026 season. Local authorities reiterated the importance of taking extreme safety measures when entering the sea, especially in nautical vehicles, and of always respecting the Prefecture’s warnings regarding the state of the weather and currents.
During these hours, the causes that prevented the tourist from returning to the coast on his own means are being investigated, although the main hypothesis points to a drift caused by the currents or a technical fault.
