FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 9-year-old boy drowned Monday in the water off Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Brandon Myrick was pulled from the ocean in the 800 block of Seabreeze Boulevard around 7 p.m.
Witnesses told Local 10 News they heard screaming and then saw the boy struggling in the water about 25 to 30 yards offshore. Police said Myrick's cousin, Raymond Brave, 21, lost sight of his cousin in the water. Brave tried to look for him but was unsuccessful.
Police said Brave flagged down an on-duty lifeguard who found Myrick in the water.
The boy was taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
On Tuesday loved ones set up a Go Fund Me page to help pay for Myrick's funeral, and reminisced about the lasting memory Myrick left on his family, friends and Tamarac Cougars teammates.
"Most of these kids played together for five years and built a bond. He would make you smile and he would make you cheer as he was sacking the quarterback, or ripping the ball out of the opposing teams hands. This boy was full of passion -- from doing great in school, never getting in trouble, loving his teammates, family and playing football."
Myrick's football coach spoke to Local 10 News reporter Christina Vazquez about the boy who he said "always had a smile on his face."
"The death of a nine-year-old -- you can't explain it," said Coach Joe Torok. "There's no answer. You use this, I guess, as a time for the kids to understand the importance of life and the quality of spending time with family and friends, and trying to move on knowing what we do from here, at least on the football field, is what Brandon would have wanted."
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