A young boy drowned in Lake Erie after he was hit by a strange wave and washed into the sea while picking up shells on the beach.
Hunter Ebie, 11, was just paddling in ankle-deep water in Conneaut, Ohio, bending down to grab a grenade when the wave caught him last Friday around 1:30 p.m.
His family said Hunter’s mother Diana watched in horror and dove in to save him, but both were caught in a tidal wave and she almost drowned.
A heroic firefighter on the beach dove in and rescued Diana, then went after Hunter again, but the boy never resurfaced.
Hunter Ebie, 11, drowned in Lake Erie after being hit by a strange wave and washed out to sea while picking up grenades on the beach
His family said Hunter’s mother Diana Ebie (pictured with Hunter on the left, his stepfather Sam Chambers and Hunter’s sisters) watched in horror and dove in to save him.
Combined rescue teams used helicopters, drones, divers and boats to search the Lake Erie area and eventually found Hunter’s body on Tuesday afternoon.
The Coast Guard arrived at the Conneaut Township Park beach around 2 p.m., but there was no sign of the varsity football player.
Combined rescue teams used helicopters, drones, divers and boats to search the Lake Erie area and eventually found Hunter’s body on Tuesday afternoon.
Hunter’s stepfather Sam Chambers stayed in Conneaut and spent every day at the beach looking for his son.
‘Words cannot express. He was a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin and just a caring and loving child,” Hunter’s family said in a statement.
Chambers stayed in Conneaut and spent every day at the beach looking for his son
Part of the massive search involving four agencies and local volunteers
‘Words cannot express. He was a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin and just a caring and loving child,” Hunter’s family said in a statement.
The family of five is from Akron, Ohio, about 90 miles away, and the city of Conneaut came together to support them in the search.
“Someone generously donated a place for the family to stay, a wonderful restaurant owner made sure they had a delicious hot meal,” one resident said.
‘A local pastor opened the clothing bank and a local advisor went along to collect warm clothing.’
Hunter’s family of five is from Akron, Ohio, about 90 miles away, and was on a beach trip
Hunter’s classmates at Schrop Intermediate School and teammates on the Spartans Football team held a vigil at the local Springfield Lake
Others stayed with Chambers on the beach all night, hoping his son would return from the lake
The family is raising money to pay for Hunter’s funeral
Others stayed with Chambers on the beach all night, hoping his son would return from the lake.
Hunter’s classmates from Schrop Intermediate School and teammates from the Spartans Football team held a vigil at the local Springfield Lake, and the family’s neighbor, Wade Swain, is organizing a memorial convoy for Saturday.
So is a family friend Get money to pay for Hunter’s funeral.