### Bodyless Head Found in South Florida Identified as Missing Teen Swimmer

In a tragic turn of events, authorities have identified a bodyless head that washed ashore in South Florida as belonging to a 19-year-old swimmer who vanished off Miami Beach while attempting to rescue his younger sister from a rip current.

Victor Enrique Castaneda Jr. was reported missing on November 9 near a jetty in Miami Beach. Despite extensive search efforts by local officials and the U.S. Coast Guard, he could not be found.

The discovery of a dismembered head on November 12 by a beach worker in Key Biscayne, a barrier island near Miami, added another layer of mystery. On Friday, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner confirmed the human remains were those of Castaneda. The cause and manner of his death are still under investigation.

Castaneda and his sister were caught in a rip current while swimming at Miami Beach’s South Point Beach. A courageous bystander managed to save the girl, but by the time they returned to rescue Castaneda, he had disappeared.

Family and friends gathered on Saturday for a memorial service at the beach to honor Victor's life. Two boats from Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue paid tribute by firing water cannons. Castaneda’s sisters, wearing shirts emblazoned with "Forever 19," expressed their gratitude for the community’s support.

"He would have loved to see how many people have come and come together and love him wholeheartedly," said Chloe Castaneda in an interview with WBFS-TV.

"My brother was an amazing, amazing person and to know him was to love him," added Jessica Castaneda. "He couldn't have been more perfect. The most kind person I've ever known."

The community continues to mourn the loss of a young man whose heroism and kindness will not be forgotten.