MIAMI — A somber crowd amassed on the sandy beaches of South Pointe in Miami Beach Saturday afternoon, carrying flowers and holding back tears as they mourned the loss of 19-year-old Victor Enrique Castaneda Jr.

Wearing shirts with his face adorned on them, “Forever 19” written in cursive above it, they held up a portrait and lowered their heads near a purple lifeguard tower flying two warning flags: dangerous marine life and medium surf.

Photos of Castaneda were passed around before the ceremony began. Just off shore, two Miami-Dade Fire Rescue boats played their sirens and fired water cannons into the air in an honorary show.

Castaneda disappeared into the ocean after swimming with his younger sister, Hailey Clements, off South Pointe Beach on Nov. 9. His family now remembers him as the hero who gave his life to save his sister.

Pastor Tucker Stipe, of Christ Fellowship, started the ceremony asking the dozens of family and friends that came to mourn to bow their heads in prayer.

“He was a man full of life,” Stipe said. “I’ve been told in the last week how he was a great guy … a funny guy. Anytime he was around no one was frowning.”

His family told heartwarming stories of how they remembered his caring demeanor. Hailey, 17, took the mic, and fighting through tears, spoke on the protector her brother was.

“Victor was a loving guy, a sweet guy,” she said. “Ever since I was little, Victor always told me he would protect me and he died protecting me. He’s my everything, he’s my other half. I’ll never stop missing you.”

Chocking back tears, his older sister Chloé Castaneda shared similar stories of his kindness.

“He was an amazing soul, the kindest boy you’ll ever meet. We are all going to miss him truly,” she said.

His family released three white doves that soared into the air and hovered around the crowd. Chloé assured the crowd her brother would want them happy and celebrating on the sands.

And so they did, singing, hugging and slowly rocking to his favorite songs. As night fell, a stream of fireworks were set-off as a final goodbye.

A night swim gone wrong

On the day of his disappearance, Castaneda and his sister struggled in the water. He called for help, and bystanders managed to rescue his sister. However, they could not reach Victor.

“My brother was an amazing person. To know him was to love him,” said Jessica Castaneda, his older sister. “He was always helping people. He was the friend people would go to to help them.”

Investigators continue to work on piecing together what happened to Victor, hoping to bring answers and closure to his family, Officer Christopher Bess, a Miami Beach Police Department spokesman told the Herald on Saturday.

Elaine Lugo’s son, Christian, was Victor’s best friend and was there that night with a group of other friends. Lugo said her son was devastated by the loss and recalled fond memories of Victor at her home.

“He called me Mama Lugo,” she said. “I broke down [hearing the news]. My family broke down. We’re still sick to our stomach. He was a special kid.”

What is known at this point in the investigation is that no foul play is suspected, said Bess.

Victor graduated from Somerset Academy Charter High School in Princeton, located in south Miami-Dade.

In a separate Instagram tribute, his other older sister, Chloé, described him as “the best part of this family.” She wrote, “A hero — life has a way of taking the best people. There was a time when he was all that kept this family going. Pure, genuine, so full of life.”

On Friday, Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County police confirmed that remains found washed ashore on a Key Biscayne beach were of Victor.

“The Miami Beach Police Department extends prayers and condolences to the family,” said Cmdr. Shantell Mitchell, a Miami Beach Police Department spokeswoman. “Our victim advocates will continue to provide support to the family during this time.”

The remains was discovered on Tuesday by a beach employee near the Oceansound Key Colony II condominium at 251 Crandon Blvd.

A GoFundMe page has been started to help the family and describes how Victor’s calling was to always serve others.

“He would have loved to see how many people have come and really gotten together to love him wholeheartedly.,” Chloé said. “He was a hero.”

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