The body of a six year-old missing boy who vanished while with his family in Florida has been found by Panama City Beach authorities.
Earlier, 6-year-old Enrique Cortez-Duban, of Georgia, was last seen at around 11:30 a.m on Monday, near the Shores of Panama condominiums in Panama City on South Thomas Drive.
According to police spokeswoman Debbie Ingram Ward, the body of Cortez-Dubon was found on Tuesday afternoon in the sand on Surf Drive, city.
“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.”
“This was nobody’s fault. This was a tragic accident,” Police Chief J.R. Talamantez added.
“Enrique was a small child. There were hundreds of people around him, and it can happen that quickly,” he said.
Talamantez encouraged guardians to advice their wards about water safety, The Associated Press reported.
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.
