Coast Guard find body off coast of Puerto Rico believed to be missing Chilean man

Published January 03, 2017

MIAMI BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 17: The 7.9-meter small boat moves past the United States Coast Guard Cutter William Flores after it was launched from the launch ramp on the back of the ship on October 17, 2012 just off shore Miami Beach, Florida. The cutter is the third of a planned 58 Fast Response Cutters in the Sentinel Class as the U.S. Coast Guard continues to replace its aging fleet. On November 3, the USCGC William Flores will be commissioned into service in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)

The U.S. Coast Guard has found a body floating off Puerto Rico's northwest coast that officials believe to be a Chilean man reported missing from a cargo vessel traveling through the region.

The body was dressed in a uniform belonging to the Chilean-flagged Berkay N and was found near where the vessel's first engineer Luis Leyva Aliaga went missing. The 62-year-old was last seen at about 11 p.m. Wednesday and was reported missing Thursday after he did not show up for his assignment.

Jaime Balzac, the Coast Guard's Sector San Juan Command Duty officer, said a cutter recovered the body Saturday after a sighting by a search helicopter.

Family members are expected to officially identify the body within five days and Chilean authorities will investigate the incident.

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