BARSTOW, Calif. — A tragic update after a 2-year-old boy was swept away by flood waters in the Barstow, California area.
The boy's family says Xavier Padilla Aguilera was swept away around 6:30 p.m. local time Thursday along Main Street while in the car with his father, 26-year-old Brandon Padilla Aguilera
"He's devastated," said Carolyn Tackett, the boy's grandmother, referring to Xavier's father. "We're all devastated.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
City officials confirmed Xavier was found dead on Friday afternoon.
"Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences to those affected by this tragedy," a city spokesperson said.
He was found at about 2:44pm in the San Bernardino County Flood Control channel south of the Mojave River, officials said.
"Yesterday we had a funeral for my mom," Carolyn Tackett, the boy's grandmother, said in an interview near the scene where the car was found. "My son drove home with my grandson. I guess the road was — something happened in the road. All I know is that my son's car ended up — the bumper's down here, near the bridge.
Tackett said her son "got out the car, tried to get out the car — he doesn't know how to swim. He got my grandson out. My son went under. Now my grandson's missing."
As police officers and firefighters were responding to the scene, "it was reported that the occupants had been separated from the vehicle and were continuing to travel north with the floodwaters," according to Barstow police. "Brandon Aguilera was located on an island that had been created by the floodwaters."
He was rescued by Barstow firefighters and taken to the hospital, and has since been released.
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"His vitals were unstable, his temperature wasn't stable," Xavier's aunt, Leanna, told our sister station, ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles, referring to the boy's father. "He had water in his lungs. He had cuts and bruises all over his legs."
Tackett said her son was "completely swollen. He has an infection from the water, and I'm just going to keep him in prayers."
Leanna said police suspended the official search until daylight Friday morning. Shortly before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Barstow police confirmed the search was ongoing.
"We have a bunch of volunteers out here who are still looking," she said. "If you guys can, if you live in the area, if you have bright lights… anything that can help us look through the dirt, the mud – anything to help us look for him and find him, we greatly appreciate it."
Xavier was last seen with black pants and shirt, as well as black and white Nike shoes.
He is about 46 inches tall, weighs about 28 pounds with light brown curly hair. He also has autism and is nonverbal.
"I don't even like Barstow but today I love Barstow," Tackett said. "Because everybody's that's out here right now is all from Barstow, trying to help me look for my grandson. They've been out here all night."
