Red Cross volunteers searching for a drowned young tourist from the United States were led to discovery by a jaguarundi (eyra cat, similar to a mountain lion), which seemed to be guarding the deceased child.

As reported by The Costa Rica Star earlier this week, a flash flood swept away three U.S. tourists swimming in the Blanco river in the Rincon de la Vieja (Old Woman’s Corner) National Park, province of Guanacaste. Two victims, a 67-year old woman, a 38-year old man were recovered by Red Cross rescuers on the day of the incident. The 6-year old child would be found a day later.

On Friday morning, rescuers were combing the riverbank about a kilometer from the spot where the boy was last seen, when their attention turned to a jaguarundi that was pacing in a semicircular pattern while grunting towards the water.

The wild feline held its territorial prowl until the rescuers shooed it away to take a closer look. According to a Red Cross spokesperson, the child suffered massive trauma caused by tree branches, rocks and river debris.

The adult victims have been identified by the last names of Piedra Santa, the father of the aforementioned child, and Estrada Moran, the aunt. There were two survivors who were able to hold on to tree branches and made it to the riverbank in time to avoid the deadly flash river flood.

Victims and survivors of this tragedy are part of a large family whose elders are from El Salvador and became naturalized U.S. citizens.

Red Cross rescuers mentioned that if not for the sight of jaguarundi, they may still be looking for the child in the thick vegetation of the riverbank, which has drastically changed due to flash flooding.

Jaguarundis are one of a handful of wild feline species that roam across Costa Rica, but they are abundant in the dry tropical forests of Guanacaste.