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Search continues for missing Padre Island swimmer

Andru Bass, 18, was set to graduate this summer
Search continues for missing 18-year-old local swimmer
Missing swimmer Andru Bass
Beach search for missing Padre Island swimmer
Andru Bass
Posted at 9:32 PM, May 23, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-25 21:47:22-04

UPDATE 12:30 p.m. Tuesday

The search and recovery efforts continue for a teenager who went missing Sunday night while swimming off the coast of Padre Island.

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search late last night, but local fire departments and crews are still on the ground looking on Tuesday.

Family members tell us 18-year-old Andru Bass was swimming off Padre Island with his 16-year-old brother when he vanished Sunday night.

This happened in the area of Zahn Road, just north of Packery Channel.

Off-camera we spoke to Bass' mother on Monday

She told us that Andrew and his brother went for a swim and then were swept up in the surf.

Two surfers helped her younger son back to shore but could not find Andrew.

Members of the Corpus Christi Fire Department say they are still in full recovery mode today.

Fire Chief Dale Scott says recovery efforts continue from beach marker 200 all the way to the Padre Island National Seashore.

Joined by several agencies like the Coast Guard, Corpus Christi Beach Rescue and CCFD to search for Bass.

"Doing the search we are looking in at the waves and at the surf to see if there is anything abnormal that we need to investigate," Scott said. "Something out of the ordinary, maybe something under the waves that is splashing in a different manner."

Scott says the tide has receded a lot since Sunday. He asks people to keep an eye out.

We will continue to stay in touch with rescue crews and keep you updated when we learn new details.

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UPDATE: The search for a man who went missing while swimming off Padre Island has been suspended by the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard searched 787 square nautical miles for approximately 23 hours, according to a press release.

The missing man's name is Andru Bass, 18, according to his mother, Ana Marie Erevia.

Bass most recently attended Richard Milburn Academy. Earlier, he attended Moody High School.

Family members say that Bass loved spending time with them, basketball and playing the saxophone.

Erevia says that Bass' family came to the beach because it is one of their favorite activities.

She said Bass and his brother ventured into the water late Sunday afternoon.

A couple of surfers were there to help, but they couldn't find Andru.

The search continues at this time. Erevia says they will not leave until they find Bass' body.

The U.S. Coast Guard, 361 Salt Life, Corpus Christi Fire Department and other rescue crews are helping in the search.

Beach search for missing Padre Island swimmer
The search continues Monday morning for a missing Padre Island swimmer.

ORIGINAL STORY: A search is underway for a man rescue crews say went missing around 8:00 p.m. Sunday while swimming off Padre Island.

Nueces County ESD 2, police and fire units from the city of Corpus Christi, along with the Coast Guard searched the water near beach marker 203, north of Packery Channel, Sunday night into Monday morning.

A friend who was there says the man disappeared while in the water.

*This is a developing story. We will update as more information is made available.