Panama City Beach police have recovered the body of a missing 6-year-old Atlanta-area boy, a city spokeswoman said Tuesday in Florida. Police say the cause of death appears to be drowning.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been created to honor Enrique Cortez-Dubon’s memory and cover his final expenses.
“This was nobody’s fault. This was a tragic accident,” Police Chief J.R. Talamantez told reporters Tuesday evening.
Enrique’s body was found Tuesday afternoon in the sand on Surf Drive, city spokeswoman Debbie Ingram Ward told The Associated Press.
We are sad to confirm that the body of missing 6-year-old Enrique Cortez-Dubon has been found this afternoon. We join the community in sadness and prayers for his family. 🙏🏻 @ Panama City Beach, Florida https://t.co/aMfbUSoPUO
— Henry Brigmond - Realtor©️ (@SweetHomePCB) July 6, 2021
“We are saddened to report the body of six-year-old Enrique Cortez-Dubon has been recovered between public beach accesses 21 and 22 on Surf Drive,” Panama City Beach officials said on Twitter. “This is approximately 1.5 miles east of where he was last seen more than 24 hours ago. Our condolences go to the family.”
Talamantez urged parents to talk to their children about water safety, The Associated Press reported.
“Enrique was a small child. There were hundreds of people around him, and it can happen that quickly,” he said.
“Of course, this is not the outcome we would have wanted, but it is some closure for the family,” Talamantez said Tuesday night. “Our hearts are broken for this family. We know they are grieving, and our prayers are with them.”
Police did not immediately release a cause of death but said earlier the evidence suggested the child went into the water.
Enrique was last seen by his family behind the Shores of Panama resort on South Thomas Drive at 11:30 a.m. Monday, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said.
The Missing Child Alert issued for Enrique Cortez-Dubon has been canceled. It is with sadness that we report the child was found deceased this afternoon from a possible drowning. Our thoughts are with his family and community.https://t.co/s3kUEFW6M5
— FDLE (@fdlepio) July 7, 2021
The search resumed Tuesday in Florida for Enrique, according to Panama City Beach officials.
Earlier Tuesday, police said in a statement that they were investigating the possibility the child may have drowned or was abducted, although “the evidence leads us to believe he went missing in the water.” He was last seen in knee-high water and the family said he did not swim well, The Associated Press reported.
PCB Beach Rescue resume search efforts this morning for a missing 6-year-old boy from the Atlanta area. The entire length of the island is being searched. pic.twitter.com/gzUGR0zFnr
— Panama City Beach - Government (@beach_panama) July 6, 2021
Enrique was last seen in a teal shirt and light blue shorts.
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