Officials share name of missing swimmer in Newport, still conducting land searches

NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE) — Officials released the identity of a swimmer reported missing off the coast of Newport on Sunday evening.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said Monday that crews were still conducting land searches for 20-year-old Dexter Gutierrez Matias of East Providence.

Matias was swimming at Brenton Point State Park and the Brenton Reef on Ocean Avenue in Newport on Sunday evening when he went missing.

The Coast Guard, RIDEM, and multiple other agencies contributed to the hours-long search, which was called around 9 p.m. Sunday due to rough waters and poor visibility.

The search resumed Monday morning, with the Coast Guard canceling water searches around noon.

“This is not the safest place to swim,” one Newport resident said. “I know a lot of hardcore swimmers and they’ll go other places, but no one comes here to swim.”

A chief officer with the Coast Guard unit involved in the search encouraged swimmers to be cautious and never go beyond their limits.

“Be safe out there. The weather was not the best yesterday, it was a little dangerous, so always make that proper decision before you go out,” Ryan O’Hare, Castle Hill Coast Guard Commanding Officer, said “Do not go out alone, and if you do, wear a lifejacket while you’re out there.”