BOLIVAR PENINSULA, Texas — Following a heartbreaking tragedy on Crystal Beach, the family of Micah Batson spoke with media for the first time.
Batson, 10, drowned Saturday while playing in the water.
His grandmother Heide Burgess said it's a nightmare.
"There are so many broken hearts right now," Burgess said.
The Arkansas family has been grieving due to the young boy taken by the tide.
"This is going to be the hardest week of our life," Burgess said.
Two days prior to the family's visit to the Texas coast, Batson celebrated his 10th birthday.
Burgess said her grandson was a joy to the world.
"Micah was so spontaneous, he had the world by its tail," Burgess said. "He was ready for anything and everything that challenged him."
Crystal Beach didn't just become the destination for Batson's birthday celebration, but also marked the end of his father's chemo treatment after battling cancer.
"Will and Micah were just out in the water, just playing," Burgess said.
The father and son were swimming together when they became separated and went missing.
"The wave just caught them, it just caught them," Burgess said.
Sergeant Mark McGaffey, with the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, was one of many first responders who rushed to the scene.
From the air, on the water, or looking out from the beach, everyone including strangers stepped into the search.
"We had a couple of people on the shores, put there jet skis in for us to help us look," McGaffey said.
Rescuers were able to save the father within an hour, but it took nearly four hours before anyone could spot Batson.
"It's just nothing that anybody ever wants to have to deal with," McGaffey said. "It's just a little rough."
Batson's family said they appreciate all of the help in trying to save their little boy.
"Me and my family want to send our thanks to the officials, we want to send our thanks to the public," Burgess said. "Everybody that helped no matter how small it was."
Batson's body has been taken back to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he will be laid to rest on Friday.
"It's like a nightmare and reality all slapping you in the face at one time," Burgess said.
The family has erected a cross in Batson's memory, near the scene at marker 85 on Crystal Beach.
"He may be gone but I guarantee you he will never ever be forgotten," Burgess said in tears. "He will never be forgotten."
GoFundMe's for each side of the family have been created to help with funeral expenses.
