URGENT: Cruiser's Boat Kid missing from boardwalk/marina in Kemah Texas.

[KDH]

The 5 year old child of cruisers has gone missing from the boardwalk/marina in Kemah Texas and was last seen in the vicinity of her family's boat at approxiamately 6:30 local last night. Contrary to news reports the child, a girl named Kitty, has not been found in the water. Please share the following link https://www.facebook.com/TheBoatGall...30652103638977. This child was described as bright and curious and may only have wandered off but she may also be endangered. Since these folks are cruisers I think it qualifies as cruising news.

[KDH]

Search has switched to land. Bump.

[oldragbaggers]

Sad to say that I just read on Facebook that her body was found in the water. Such a tragedy.

[Ocean Girl]

She was found alongside the boat, beyond sad.
E

[bob_77903]

God bless her and her family, very sad....

[Cormorant]

Here's an article with some more info. Just heartbreaking.

Missing girl's body found under Kemah boat dock

KEMAH, Texas – The search for a 5-year-old girl at a Kemah marina came to a tragic end early Thursday morning, Texas Equusearch said.
A searcher found the girl's body under a dock not far from her dad's boat, Equusearch confirmed with KHOU 11 News.
Earlier in the morning, the Kemah Police Department identified the girl as Fiona "Kitty" Caroll.
Family and friends said the girl went missing Wednesday evening, on her 5th birthday, as her dad prepared their boat for an upcoming trip. The girl's bucket was later found in the water, but an overnight search at the Kemah Boardwalk Marina did not turn up any other clues.
More than 100 members of law enforcement joined the search. A Galveston County dive team, the Kemah Fire Department, the Seabrook Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted in the search, and Texas Equusearch also brought in its sonar equipment to help.
"I actually live down the street and it touched my heart…I came down here searching and hoping, hoping she found a playhouse or funhouse to play in," Robin Browning, volunteer, said.
Equuseach founder Tim Miller said he had been holding out hope for the same thing after authorities used sonar in the water for seven hours straight with no success.
"We're going to keep praying and hopefully she did wander away somewhere and she's going to say, 'Where is my dad and mom?', but until we know that we're going to keep searching," Miller said.
Miller says he delivered the devastating news to the child's parents as soon the body was found.
"They want to hold their kid, I know if it was my daughter I would want the same treatment we had given this family. I want to go home and hug my daughter," Browning said.
Investigators said they do not expect foul play in the case.
"We extend our sincerest sympathy for her mother, father and other family members," noted the Kemah Police Department in a press release. "We would like to thank all the police, fire, federal agencies and Texas Equusearch that assisted us during this tragic incident."
A GoFundMe page set up for the family says "She was an incredible girl, full of spunk and sass, and had the sweetest spirit."
Kitty's aunt, Christine Barr, sad, "She was a total joy. She absolutely sparkled."
Barr thanked law enforcement and all the Equusearch volunteers who came out to search overnight.


Support the family: Fund for Kitty Carroll

[SV Sailfish]

Oh man... my heart is breaking for the family.

[RedHerring]

One of my kids is of a similar age, and I can't even begin to fathom the emotional abyss her parents have to go through.

The "lifejacket always on when out of cabin" rule we have just got a hell of a lot of reinforcement. The idea of acquiring good swimming skills as early as possible, too.

[CarlF]

So very sad. Among a parent's worst nightmares.

But I hope this tragedy is not used by local officials under a "better safe than sorry" excuse to further limit kids activities around boats and docks.

In 1962 when I was 7 I had an 8ft pram with a 3HP Evinrude. I would drive all over the harbor on Cape Cod. While I had to tell my parents that I was going down to the boat, they typically stayed at the house 1/8 mile away.

Can you imagine this today?

By every measure this is less risky today ( violent crime is way down, fewer pedophiles on the street, the harbor master patrols more, Sea Tow and Boat US is around, boats have better floatation, and maybe I'd leave my lifejacket on since they look better and are more comfortable.

I still smile when I think of that pram. It made me a a more confident and adventuresome person. Not to mention, the beginning of a love of boats and the sea.

[Bulawayo]

Originally Posted by oldragbaggers

Sad to say that I just read on Facebook that her body was found in the water. Such a tragedy.

What can any of us say; we are totally gutted.
I think I speak for everyone when I say our hearts are broken and that we are all devasted by such a tragedy. It is so painful.................

[Cheechako]

Geez... unthinkable. So Sad. Parents and pet owners.... this happens a lot, please don't think it wont happen to you.... it takes a few seconds...

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Geez... unthinkable. So Sad. Parents and pet owners.... this happens a lot, please don't think it wont happen to you.... it takes a few seconds...

Yes, just seconds. Best to have your young children and pets wear PFDs on the docks and on the boat when not inside the cabin.

[Don C L]

I hope our condolences will reach them and that they may offer some kind of comfort. As a parent of a 4 year old and a 9 year old (who love to sail) it is my nightmare, even though they do wear their pfds.

[zeehag]

petition marinas for installation of ladders of some sort on docks for folks and critters to exit the water, as we all know there aint such items in place at this time anywhere.
even oldsters have big trouble climbing out the water when falling into it.

i hope the family is able to remain strong.
i called for women in a group in which i enjoy membership to please rally around these folks and bring to them what they have no desire to do- cook food to eat. their problem is sooo much more real than mundaneness of food.
yet they must remain strong to survive the grieving process.
loss of a child is loss of part of a parent's soul.
please rally around them now

[Randy]

A family's greatest tragedy.

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