CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard, state and local emergency responders ended their search for a missing 13-year-old kayaker Friday afternoon, after Texas Parks and Wildlife Department located a body matching the boy's description in the vicinity of Port Isabel where he was last seen.
"We would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Nahun Barragan," said Chief Petty Officer Joshua Sharman, a search and rescue coordinator at Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi. "It was a quick initial response by several of our partner agencies that resulted in two people being recovered and returned safely to shore. We searched for approximately 18 hours. We thoroughly saturated the area, covering over 42 square miles and were saddened to learn that they discovered the missing person's body."
At about 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders received a 911 relay call from two teenaged kayakers stating they didn't see a friend resurface after going into the water without a lifejacket. Watchstanders launched a Station South Padre Island boatcrew to respond and a good Samaritan was able to bring the other two boys to safety.
A Customs and Border Protection aircrew supported search efforts Thursday night as a Coast Guard Corpus Christi aircrew was assisting a search for a missing man near Freeport. The Corpus Christi aircrews returned to assist search efforts Friday morning.
Agencies and assets involved in the search in the vicinity of Laguna Madre, Laguna Vista, Laguna Heights and the Intracoastal waterway included:
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Marine Unit
- Coast Guard Station South Padre Island
- Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi
- Cameron County Sheriff's Department
- Port Isabel Fire Department
- Port Isabel Police Department
- Laguna Vista Police Department
- Constables from Precinct 1
The body was taken to shore by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department crews and met by a justice of the peace for identification.