SURFSIDE BEACH, Texas — The body of Joshua Lahai was recovered Tuesday afternoon near Surfside Beach after a dayslong search that began when the child disappeared in the Gulf during a Memorial Day weekend beach outing.
Surfside Beach Police Chief Philip Hester confirmed Joshua was found in the water about a half mile from where he was last seen near Beach Drive. Search officials said he was located roughly 100 yards from shore, near the area where clothing believed to belong to him had been found Monday.
Joshua had been at Surfside Beach with a youth football team from Richmond, along with family members and friends, when the incident happened Sunday evening.
The group was near Ocean Avenue around 5:30 p.m. when Joshua and another child were in the water. Texas EquuSearch reported that the two children were offshore when a large wave hit them. The other child made it back to shore, but Joshua did not resurface.
The search quickly grew into a multi-agency response.
Surfside Beach police, the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, Texas EquuSearch and the U.S. Coast Guard were among the agencies involved. Crews searched by boat, helicopter, drone, aircraft, ATV and on foot as they worked along the shoreline and in the water.
The Coast Guard assisted early in the search, while Texas EquuSearch and local authorities continued working after the effort shifted toward recovery.
Clothing believed to belong to Joshua was recovered Monday, giving crews a more focused area to continue searching. His body was recovered Tuesday afternoon near Beach Drive, bringing the search to a tragic end.
The child’s family has been notified.
The incident has renewed concerns about beach safety along the upper Texas Gulf Coast, especially during holiday weekends when Surfside Beach and nearby coastal areas draw large crowds.
Surfside Beach is a popular destination for families and visitors from across the region, but Gulf conditions can change quickly. Waves, currents, sudden drop-offs and rough surf can become dangerous even when the beach appears calm from shore.
Authorities continue to urge beachgoers to follow posted warnings, watch children closely in the water and avoid entering the Gulf during dangerous surf conditions.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
This story updates earlier Gulf Coast Times coverage of the Surfside Beach search.
Comments (0)