Medical examiner to identify body recovered near Brenton Point State Park

NEWPORT – The state medical examiner will try to determine the identity and cause of death of a body found Wednesday at Brenton Point State Park , according to the state Department of Environmental Management.

The body was found in the same area where a swimmer went missing on June 23 , the DEM said. The missing man has been identified as Dexter Gutierrez Matias, 20, of East Providence.

Matias was reported missing in the water near the area known as 12 O’Clock High on the north end of Brenton Point shoreline in Newport, according to the DEM. He was not found despite a search involving boats and a helicopter.

"As Dexter was standing in knee-deep water, he was swept off his feet by a rip current," says a GoFundMe account set up for his son.

Matias had been enjoying the day at the beach with friends who were helping him improve his swimming skills so he could bring his son to the beach and teach him to swim, the GoFundMe page says.

"His friends tried to help save him, but they were unable to," the page says.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Medical examiner to identify body recovered near Brenton Point State Park