2nd body found in search for 13-year-old twins who went missing near Pleasure Pier in Galveston

06/03/202309/03/2023 Melana 0 Comments missing

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) — A second body has been found in the search for 13-year-old twin boys who went missing while swimming in Galveston over the weekend, authorities confirmed to ABC13 early Thursday morning.

The 13-year-old boys were last seen Sunday swimming near Pleasure Pier when they vanished. A group of people walking on the beach found one of the child’s bodies overnight.

Lt. Austin Kirwin with Galveston Beach Patrol told us the second teen’s body was found at about 1 a.m. near 47th and Seawall. That is the only information authorities provided on the rescue of this teen.

The video above is from a previous report.

The other twin was pulled to shore Tuesday morning by a group of people who were walking on the beach, authorities said.

“Caller just pulled an unconscious person, young teenager, out of the water. Blue shirt, red shorts. Not moving. EMS is going to be en route,” a dispatcher was heard reporting on radio traffic. “Male meets the description of one of the missing children from two days ago,” another official said on Tuesday

The boys disappeared at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday when they were last seen swimming on the west side of Pleasure Pier, about 20 yards from the shore.

Kirwin said the boys are from Houston. They reportedly did not know how to swim.

Their family called 911, saying they last saw their children in water about waist to chest deep. The boys were around 4 feet tall.

Search crews were launched and the U.S. Coast Guard flew its helicopter overnight into Monday in hopes of finding the boys.

Family members of the missing teens were out at the search site but too distraught to speak on camera. They did, however, share a photo of the boys.

Kirwin warned about strong currents and waves this time of year in Galveston, advising that people watch their kids closely and look out for jetties and piers in the water.

A lateral current tends to form in the Gulf waters in Galveston.

“Whenever that current hits an object out in the water, such as these jetties, it creates a rip current that forms, which pulls you out to sea away from shore,” Kirwin said. “So, a lot of times, things will get caught in that rip current and they could get stuck on the rocks. They could just get kicked farther out to sea.”

On Monday, several people had to be rescued from rip currents in Galveston.

ABC13 is told beach patrol saved three girls and a boy, and that someone who tried to help during that rescue needed saving, too.

The Galveston Island Beach Patrol offered an update 24 hours after two twin boys disappeared in the water.

Beach patrol said that it’s running mobile patrol vehicles and providing 24/7 on-call service.

It added that stationed lifeguards will start working the beach on Saturday, March 11. Lifeguard tryouts will also be held that day.

If you panic and try to fight the current, chances increase that you can drown.

Remember to swim within your limits and near a lifeguard if possible.

Non-swimmers and children should always wear life jackets when in or around the water.

MISSING: Two 13-year-olds boys last seen in the water near Pleasure Pier in Galveston

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) — Galveston Island Beach Patrol and volunteer crews expanded a search area on Monday nearly 24 hours after 13-year-old twin boys disappeared in the water near the Pleasure Pier.

The search spans from Stewart Beach to 101st Street.

According to Galveston Island Beach Patrol, the twins were last seen swimming on the west side of the pier, about 20 yards from the shore, at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

An hour later, their family called 911 to report the boys missing, adding that while they last saw them in water about waist to chest deep, they never saw them go under.

Along with beach patrol, police, fire and EMS all responded to search the area. Search crews were launched and the U.S. Coast Guard flew its helicopter overnight in hopes of finding the boys.

The search continued along the shore line and in the water Monday morning. ABC13 crews spotted officials on jet skis searching and diving.

Family members of the missing teens were out at the search site but too distraught to speak on camera. They did, however, share a photo of the boys.

In the meantime, Lt. Austin Kirwin with beach patrol warned about strong currents and waves this time of year in Galveston, advising that people watch their kids closely and look out for jetties and piers in the water.

A lateral current tends to form in the Gulf waters in Galveston.

“Whenever that current hits an object out in the water, such as these jetties, it creates a rip current that forms, which pulls you out to sea away from shore,” Lt. Kirwin said. “So, a lot of times, things will get caught in that rip current and they could get stuck on the rocks. They could just get kicked farther out to sea.”