Eleven-year-old Joshua Lahai was spending Memorial Day at Surfside Beach in Brazoria County, Texas, with his youth football team on May 24, 2026. Like many families celebrating the unofficial start of summer, the kids were having fun in the water. But tragedy struck when a large wave swept Joshua out into the ocean.
Immediate Search Efforts
First responders acted quickly after Joshua went missing around 5:30 p.m. on May 24. Local authorities, volunteer groups, and organizations including Texas EquuSearch joined the search, which lasted over 24 hours despite challenging conditions.
Joshua’s family spoke openly about their heartbreak and confusion during the search. “We don’t know exactly what happened. I just want closure for my mom because this is really hard on her,” said Peter Lahai. Family members explained that they witnessed Joshua being swept away and hoped for closure. “We would at least want to have that closure of having a body. That’s the worst, not knowing,” Peter added.
The family also questioned why the beach remained open during the search. Surfside Beach officials explained that they typically do not close beaches after a drowning, but the family worried that other visitors might not know to be on the lookout for a missing child.
Recovery of Joshua Lahai
Nearly two days after his disappearance, Joshua was found. On May 26, Surfside Beach Police Chief Phillip Hester confirmed that Joshua had been located earlier that morning. Officer Christopher Redmond discovered Joshua’s body while speaking with a fisherman wade fishing in the area.
The fisherman said he felt “something” bump against his leg, and Redmond immediately jumped into the water. Joshua’s body was floating roughly 150 yards offshore and was brought safely back to shore.
Chief Hester explained that the body was found between half a mile and three-quarters of a mile east of where Joshua had been hit by the wave. Officer Redmond said, “My job was to get the body in and bring closure to the family. Although it was a tragic day, at least he’s home.”
Challenges During the Search
The search and recovery mission was extremely difficult due to rough surf, strong currents, and heavy amounts of seaweed in the water. According to Chief Hester, Joshua and his friend were lifted off a sandbar by a wave and became separated, which caused panic before Joshua went under.
Authorities responded within minutes of the initial call. They deployed drones, helicopters, ATVs, and teams on the beach to cover the area as efficiently as possible. Crews also recovered the shorts Joshua was wearing about 24 hours after he went missing.
