The family of a 12-year-old boy swept to the sea in northern California is offering a $ 50,000 reward to anyone who locates him after a multi-agency investigation was suspended.
The boy, identified by family as Arunay Pruthi, was pulled into the sea Monday at Cowell Ranch Beach in the city of Half Moon Bay, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.
Arunay’s father and the 8-year-old brother were also pulled in by a ‘sneaker wave’, the boy’s uncle Arvind Pruthi said. According to the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit, the father and brother were eventually pushed back to shore after being ‘hit by waves’. Arunay was pulled underwater about 100 meters from the sea.
The U.S. Coast Guard, Cal Fire, the San Mateo County Sheriff and other agencies used boats, drones and helicopters to search for Arunay. A sheriff’s spokesman said Wednesday the search was suspended.
A deputy sector commander for the Coast Guard’s San Francisco unit said the decision was made “after considering the environmental conditions and the time elapsed.”
“It’s a tragic loss for the family who just tried to enjoy a day together on the beach. Our deepest sympathy is with them at the moment,” said Captain Howard Wright.
In a Facebook post on a Search for Arunay Pruthi page, the boy’s family said they were offering the $ 50,000 reward “for detecting and positively identifying Arunay.”
“We have decided to offer a reward to encourage people with specialized equipment to search for him,” the family said in a report.
They asked volunteers to put their safety first and not seek out during bad weather. “We can not afford to hurt even one more soul.”
