GALVESTON, Texas — A Texas family is asking for help after a 9-year-old boy lost his prosthetic leg while vacationing on Galveston Island last weekend.
Ken Swindall said he took his family on an impromptu trip to Galveston last Sunday.
When his son, 9-year-old Jayce, saw the water, his excitement got the best of him.
"Instead of him waiting for me to take it off, he decides to go run down there and dive into the water because he just loves jumping on those waves and next thing you know I go, 'Hey, come on back, man. Let's take that leg off.' It was already gone. The wave swept it off his leg. Before I could react, it was gone," Ken said.
It was a costly decision just days before Jayce is getting ready to go back to school.
Ken said he spent most of the day searching the water for the prosthetic leg but had no luck. He said a metal detector group even volunteered and helped comb the beach for two days but they weren't able to find it, either.
Ken said a replacement will cost about $7,000.
"He needs his leg for school and getting around. We do have someone that's going to donate a wheelchair to us to help him get around in the time being," Ken said.
If anyone finds the leg, the family is asking you to turn it into the Galveston Beach Patrol, which has the family's Waco address and said it will get it to them.
The family also started a GoFundMe account to help them raise money to buy Jayce a new leg. Click here to donate.
As of 8 a.m. Thursday, the GoFundMe was up to $7,335, surpassing their goal of $7,000.