SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -- A 21-year-old Houston-area man on spring break drowned after strong currents swept him from a South Padre Island beach.

Amyn Rahim was in the water with a group of friends around 6:30 p.m. Saturday when he disappeared.

The group was having trouble making it out of the water because of strong currents, said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Charles Hawkins. A moderate rip tide current warning was issued Saturday and the area had 25 mph winds, according to the National Weather Service.

A helicopter and two boats searched for Rahim. His body washed ashore near some condominiums Saturday night, Hawkins said.

Funeral services were held Monday at South Park Funeral Home in Pearland.

Rahim was a pre-med student at Houston Baptist University. He graduated from Elsik High School.

"A lot of people know him as a goofy, funny guy who was always making everybody laugh. He was one of the most popular people at HBU. Everybody loved him. But, to me, I'm going to miss -- he was always there for me, no matter what I needed," said Divya Reddi, Rahim's friend.

It was Rahim's first trip away from home without his parents. He went to the beach with college buddies.

He was not a strong swimmer, according to family members. He was in waist-high water when he got swept away. Witnesses said he only went into the water to rinse sand off his body.

"This is a tragedy and I know that me and his family will think about him for the rest of our lives," Reddi said.