The body of a 15-year-old swimmer who went missing off Huntington Beach last month has been found.
The body was seen this week floating in the water near Lifeguard Tower 3, about two miles from where the teenager was last seen.
the swimmer, identified by friends and family that Aayan Randhawa, who would have been a sophomore at Huntington Beach High School, disappeared on July 28 around 9 p.m. after he went into the water with a friend near Lifeguard Tower 11.
Agencies including the Coast Guard, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Port Police and California State Parks joined forces an extensive search operation which lasted more than 19 hours and spanned 105 square kilometers. Divers from the Huntington Beach Fire Department’s Marine Safety Division worked alongside a vessel with sonar scanning capabilities, while the Coast Guard deployed a cutter and response boats, and helicopters searched from above.
Authorities that day noted strong rip currents in the area and waves as high as 5 feet.
Although the official search was called off more than a week ago, local lifeguards and rescue workers continued the search until the body was discovered on Monday.
“Despite the suspension of search efforts by the United States Coast Guard, our teams continued to use available resources,” the city’s fire department said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to the young swimmer’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
More than 100 friends, family and classmates gathered last week for a candlelight vigil at the Huntington Beach Pier, where Aayan’s mother, Sana Randhawa, shared memories of her youngest child.
“He was a shining star in our family,” she told the Daily Pilot. “He was always happy and he loved coming to the beach all the time. It was his favorite place.”