Valeria Afanador‘s Death Confirmed as Drowning, legal Medicine Finds
Funza, Cundinamarca - Legal Medicine has confirmed that Valeria Afanador, the 9-year-old girl whose body was recovered from the Frío River on Thursday, died by drowning, authorities reported. The finding concludes a week-long search that captivated the nation and raises questions about the initial assessment of the river’s conditions. The case underscores the challenges faced by search and rescue teams and the devastating impact of accidental drownings.
Valeria disappeared on August 21st, prompting an extensive search operation led by Cundinamarca firefighters and other emergency personnel. Despite days of searching the Frío River, the girl remained missing until her body was discovered downstream.The confirmation of drowning as the cause of death comes after a thorough examination by forensic experts, bringing a somber close to the search and initiating a period of mourning for the family and community.
Captain Álvaro Farfán, Delegate of Firefighters Cundinamarca, stated that the search had been “exhaustive,” but initially focused on areas accessible by boat and divers due to the significant debris present in the river. “Even though the work was exhaustive, according to experts, ther was a minimal possibility that the child was in the river,” he explained.
Farfán further noted that a final sweep of the area was conducted on Wednesday, August 27th, without any indication of the girl’s presence. The discovery of Valeria’s body downstream suggests she may have been carried by the current, complicating the initial search efforts.
