On Swim Outing with other KIPP Voyage students from NE Houston
GALVESTON, Texas — A 12 year old girl, missing after swimming in the waters off Galveston beach, has been found on Stewart Beach. She was on a field trip with the KIPP Voyage School, on Mesa Drive in North Forest area.
The Coast Guard has confirmed a body was found near Stewart Beach Saturday morning, May 30 by the Galveston Beach Patrol. The body matched the description of 12-year-old Samira Carlon.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Andrechik, the command duty officer at Sector Houston-Galveston. “We are deeply saddened by this outcome, and we appreciate the dedicated efforts of everyone involved in the search.”
Samira was on a field trip to Galveston with KIPP Voyage students when she swam out to a sandbar and disappeared. A teacher who swam out with the girls was a trained lifeguard according to the school.
The U.S. Coast Guard searched eight miles along the shore and an additional eight miles from the air Thursday and Friday. Teams were deployed on a helicopter, a boat and even a human chain of lifeguards were used to look for any sign of the missing girl. Galveston County’s CERT team of volunteers also assisted in the search.
The Coast Guard joined 19 lifeguards and 2 personal watercraft from Galveston Beach Patrol along with multiple personnel assisting from Galveston Police Department and Fire Department in search of the girl by boat and helicopter.
The Coast Guard also continued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast throughout Friday evening into Saturday. Galveston Beach Patrol continued their searches Saturday as well.
KIPP’s superintendent sent the following statement to parents Saturday:
“I am deeply saddened to be writing you with this news. We have learned that our missing 6th grader from KIPP Voyage Academy has passed away. She went missing while swimming in Galveston during a field trip this week. Her body was found today.
She was deeply beloved at KIPP Voyage, with a constant smile that lit up a room. She was positive, curious, and energetic in her approach to learning and a caring teammate. She was an exemplary student and showed passion for every one of her classes. An enthusiastic dancer, she was always eager to learn new styles of dance and loved making up her own choreography. She was bold and brave. To KIPP Voyage she was truly “a light.”
Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your support during this difficult time.”