Maritime cadet drowns in San Jose del Cabo
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/articles/2004/04/02/news/ne...
By J.M. BROWN, Times-Herald staff writer
April 2, 2004
A California Maritime Academy cadet drowned last weekend while spearfishing during a spring break trip in Mexico, relatives and school officials said
Thursday.
The body of sophomore John Machado, 25, of San Diego was discovered Wednesday in the waters off San Jose del Cabo, during a search by family members,
said his sister, Joelle Machado, 27, in a telephone interview from the family's home.
Machado majored in marine transportation and played on the school's rugby team.
"He was the life of the family," his sister said. "It's a huge loss."
News of Machado's death shocked fellow students and staff, who are on spring break this week. Members of the rugby team were hit especially hard,
quickly establishing a Web page dedicated to Machado's memory.
"John Machado was funny, bright and the best 'team mate' any player or coach could hope to have," said the Web page, which is part of the team's Web
site at www.fantomerugby.com.
The school's vice principal, Capt. John Keever, issued the following statement: "We are deeply saddened about the loss of Cadet John Machado. We're a
small campus and in many ways we're more like a family than anything, so a tragedy like this hits everyone on our campus hard.
"He will be remembered by our campus community as a talented athlete, a bright student and a great friend. Our thoughts are with his family during
this difficult time."
Machado's sister said Machado was experienced at spearfishing, the sport that combines snorkeling with fishing. Divers shoot fish using an underwater
rifle that deploys a spear connected to a cable or nylon line.
Relatives are left to speculate that Machado's unfamiliarity with the currents off San Jose del Cabo, a resort community near Cabo San Lucas, may have
contributed to his death, the sister said.
Machado was last seen by friends before leaving to spearfish about 7 a.m. Sunday, his sister said. When he had not returned by Monday afternoon, the
friends contacted the Machado family.
Machado's parents, John and Elsa Machado, and other relatives flew to Mexico Tuesday to search for their son, the sister said. Family members were
combing the beach Wednesday when a woman screamed out, saying she spotted a body.
Machado's brother-in-law actually pulled his body from the water, the sister said.
Machado, the youngest of three children, "loved the ocean," his sister said. He had worked on fishing boats and hoped to one day be the captain of a
cruise liner.
It was not unusual for Machado to get up early in the morning by himself to spearfish, his sister said. He and about a dozen friends from school had
arrived in Mexico for spring break the night before the drowning.
Today, relatives were expected to return to San Diego where family and friends are mourning the young man who loved rugby and fishing for lobster or
tuna, the sister said.
"It's hard," she said. "A lot of his friends don't understand."
Machado began courses at CMA, which prepares students to work in the maritime industry, after expressing an interest in a career at sea, his sister
said. Machado lived off-campus with friends, and was therefore not directly affected by the school's dorm fire.
Keever characterized Machado as an aggressive rugby player who was "one of the spark plugs" on the team.
"He was a very popular kid altogether," Keever said.
On the memorial Web site, CMA rugby team members said: "When it came to CMA rugby, the very spirit of determination, the valiant and courageous
fortitude of John Machado rang loud and clear in all our hearts ... We will remember John as a good man."
Memorial services are pending, said a representative with Beardsley-Mitchell Funeral Home, San Diego.
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