SURFSIDE BEACH, Texas – An 11-year-old boy who went missing in the waters off Surfside Beach over Memorial Day weekend has been found dead, according to Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller.
Officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Joshua Lahai’s body was recovered around 1:30 p.m. near the intersection of Oyster Street and Beach Drive along the Surfside coastline.
The child had been missing since Sunday evening after disappearing in the water near the beach.
“We’ve been here all night. Nobody’s gotten any sleep,” Miller told KPRC 2 earlier during the search effort. “We’re doing what we’re doing.”
According to Surfside Police Department, Joshua vanished around 5 p.m. Sunday while swimming approximately 150 yards offshore with another child.
Authorities said a large wave came through, causing the 11-year-old to go underwater and not resurface. The other child was able to safely return to shore.
Officials said Joshua had been visiting Surfside Beach with a youth football team from Richmond, Texas, along with family and friends.
Search crews from multiple agencies spent more than two days combing the shoreline and Gulf waters. On Monday evening, officials confirmed that the boy’s multi-colored shorts had been recovered during the search.
Texas EquuSearch joined Surfside police, the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Coast Guard in the operation. The Coast Guard deployed boats, a helicopter, and a fixed-wing aircraft to assist in the search efforts.
Throughout Monday and Tuesday, crews used drones, helicopters, boats, and shoreline searches in hopes of locating the missing child.
The incident remains under investigation.