CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard, Corpus Christi Police Department, and local fire department crews are searching for a 13-year-old female and 28-year-old male who have been missing since their boat capsized Sunday evening with six others aboard, about a mile off Swantner Park in Corpus Christi Bay.
Missing are Ovrry Leon, last seen wearing a swimsuit with a white short-sleeved shirt and life jacket, and Mario Leon, last seen wearing black shorts, no shirt, and an orange life jacket.
A good Samaritan called Corpus Christi Police Department after she reportedly saw an adult and minor yelling for help as they ran out of the water, having made their way to shore from the capsized boat. The police department called Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders at 10:47 p.m. reporting the multiple people in the water in Corpus Christi Bay.
Coast Guard watchstanders launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew along with rescue boat crews and issued an urgent marine information broadcast to alert boaters in the area who may be able to assist in looking for the reported two minors and four adults that were still in the water at the time. An hour later, Coast Guard and local agencies recovered four of the six people in the water.
The Coast Guard aircrew recovered a 3-year-old boy and transferred him to a fire-department boat. He, his parents and another family member were taken to shore. The child was pronounced deceased at Driscoll Children's Hospital and three adults were transported to Christus Spohn Hospital - Shoreline.
The following assets have been involved with the search efforts:
- Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter
- Coast Guard Station Port Aransas 29-foot and 45-foot response boats
- Flour Bluff Volunteer Fire Department boat
- Corpus Christi Fire Department boat
- Corpus Christi Marina patrol boat
- Customs and Border Protection-Air and Marine Operations boat
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department boat
- Corpus Christi Police Department