A 5-year-old California boy who went missing after being swept away by state storm flooding reportedly reassured his mother moments before they were to part ways.
“Mom, it’s okay,” Kyle Doan told his mother, Lindsy Doan. “Just keep calm.”
Those were the last words he said to her before the water tore his hand from hers.
The family was driving to Lillian Larsen Elementary School (Kyle was hoping to see his friends after the holidays and recover from a broken leg) in their Chevy Traverse before Doan lost steering control and the SUV was driven out of San Marcos, in Paso Robles. She walked and pinned against a tree.
CALIFORNIA WEATHER: STATE BRACES FOR MORE LIFE-THREATENING RAINFALL AS THE NUMBER OF STORM DEATHS RISES
This undated photo provided by the Doan family shows Kyle Doan. The 5-year-old boy was washed away by floodwaters near San Miguel, California on Monday, January 9, 2023. Search efforts for the missing boy continued for a third day, on Wednesday, January 11.
(Doan family via AP)
Doan, a special education teacher at the school, did not think the water flowing over the creek crossing was deeper than normal. They had traveled the same route on Sunday, splashing through the water without any problem.
“Yesterday I got to the point where I think I ran out of tears,” he told The Associated Press. “I just don’t know what to expect anymore. I mean, I’ve tried to do a Google search: How long can a child not eat? How long can they go in wet clothes?… We’re worried because I don’t know if they’re going to be able to find him”.
The days-long search for his son, who cannot swim, includes more than a hundred people.
Rescuers resumed the search Wednesday, January 11, 2023, for 5-year-old Kyle Doan, who was swept away Monday, January 9, by floodwaters near San Miguel, California.
(San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
National Guardsmen, dive teams and searchers with dogs and drones combed for driftwood on the banks of San Marcos Creek.
So far, only one of his Nike shoes has been found.
CALIFORNIA AUTHORITIES SAY FINDING MISSING 5-YEAR-OLD BOY IS ‘TOP PRIORITY’ AS SEARCH RESUMES WEDNESDAY MORNING
This undated photo provided by the Doan family shows Kyle Doan. The 5-year-old boy was swept away by floodwaters on Monday, January 9, 2023.
(Doan family via AP)
Neil Collins, who helped rescue Doan, told the news agency that he had noticed another body floating in the middle of the creek and thought it appeared lifeless.
It was only when Kyle’s mother reached the shore that she realized the other figure was her son.
If Doan had floated another 100 yards, Collins said he’s not sure he could have helped her.
Rescuers search Wednesday, January 11, 2023 for 5-year-old Kyle Doan, who was swept away on Monday, January 9, by floodwaters.
(San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
“Time was running out,” he said.
California residents have seen no respite from the dangerous weather that has claimed the lives of at least 18 people since late 2022.
More wet weather was forecast to hit areas already damaged by atmospheric rivers, with impacts being felt into next week.
In this photo provided by Neil Collins, floodwaters continue to flow at the intersection of Wellsona and San Marcos streets near San Marcos Creek in San Miguel, California, on Monday, January 9, 2023.
(Neil Collins via AP)
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The plume of moisture that lurked on the North Shore stretched across the Pacific to Hawaii, making the storm “a veritable Pineapple Express,” according to the National Weather Service.
Despite the rainfall, most of the state has remained in extreme or severe drought, according to the US Drought Monitor.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
