SURFSIDE BEACH — Eleven-year-old Joshua Lahai drowned at Surfside Beach on May 24 after traveling there with his football team. Police reported that the child went underwater while in the water with a friend.
Law enforcement agencies and Texas EquuSearch recovered Lahai's body approximately 48 hours after he went missing. Surfside Beach police plan to launch a life jacket donation program following the incident. Additionally, Surfside Beach city council members are scheduled to discuss an agreement for additional volunteer first responder support during busy weekends and large events with the Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) organization.
Lahai had been preparing to start sixth grade. His parents were on the beach and briefly looked away to check on other children before realizing he was missing.
"Joshua was the fourth born. He was so loving, very smart, liked to ask questions. When he was growing up, he was going to be greater than me," Peter Lahai said. Esther Lahai, Joshua's mother, said, "He was very helpful, he was kind, he was very smart. He loved me so much. He loved us."
The family had not visited Surfside Beach prior to the incident. "We don't know about that beach, and if you check the history of that beach, people drown every year," Lahai said. A vigil and burial for Joshua Lahai were scheduled for the Friday and Saturday following a June 10 report.