A body was found on a beach in Mexico after an Arizona couple went missing while kayaking on Thanksgiving.
Corey Allen and Yeon-su Kim, parents of two teenagers, were kayaking at a beach near Rocky Point, Mexico – also known as Puerto Peñasco – with their daughter on Thursday when high winds and the streams disappeared around 1 p.m.
According to GoFundMe, Allen took their 14-year-old daughter, Lux, back to shore before going back to help his wife. But the parents never made it back to shore – leading to an extensive search with the help of volunteers and rescue agencies until 6 p.m.
Authorities said Sunday they found a body on the beach that resembled one of the missing parents, but did not say which one, according to El Imperial news.
An aerial search was conducted the day the body was found, with the help of more than $54,000 raised from a fundraising account, according to organizer Lisa Omack.
The vacation destination full of sandy beaches is about 300 miles south of the Arizona border.
Corey Allen and Yeon-su Kim, parents of two children, went missing over Thanksgiving while spending time kayaking in Mexico
Authorities said on Sunday that they had found a body but did not confirm the identity.
The couple and their 14-year-old daughter were in the water near Rocky Point, Mexico, on Thursday when they disappeared due to strong winds and currents
Authorities announced the discovery on Sunday afternoon
Ellen and Yeon-su Kim are famous in Flagstaff, Arizona where supporters have donated money to help the couple find it. Yeon-su Kim is a professor of forestry at Northern Arizona University, and Alan is a real estate agent.
The couple has two children, Lux, who is a freshman at Northland Prep Academy in Flagstaff, and Pax, who is a college freshman in Oregon.
Omac, the organizer of the GoFundMe, has posted daily updates on the search efforts and announced on Saturday that the couple had been pending for more than two days.
‘Corey and Yeon-su are overdue for 54 hours now,’ Omack wrote. ‘Volunteers have spent the last two days flying, boating and searching on the ground but have yet to make any sightings.
The Mexican Navy is contributing resources through air and water, which is very helpful. we intend to continue the search [on Sunday]is focusing as many resources as possible on flights in a search area south of Puerto Peñasco.
‘GoFundMe donations that have been so generously donated so far will be used to help more pilots get up in the air, and to support others who are supporting the search with additional resources. Have been or can be capable.
No updates have been posted as of Sunday afternoon.
The NAU professor has found support online from his students and colleagues.
April Sutter wrote on the GoFundMe page, “Yon-su is one of my PIs at NAU…my heart is broken to hear this and I hope he is found safe.” ‘My thoughts go out to the family and friends of the family.’
Neil Singh wrote, “Student pilot here in Phoenix who wishes I could volunteer to join the search, but can’t donate.” ‘Praying for a positive outcome.’
Alyssa Whitby wrote, ‘Yeon-su Kim is one of the sweetest people I have met.’ ‘She is such a caring person, always keeping an eye on us students, wanting the best for everyone, and making some days better when needed.’
Others recalled memories with the couple.
“When I lived in Flagstaff from 2007 to 2010, Yeon-su and Corey became such good friends,” Juni Oh wrote. ‘He selflessly and generously helped me and my daughter settle in and feel comfortable in Flagstaff. I live on the east coast now. We kept in touch and exchanged holiday cards. My thoughts and love to Yeon-su, Corey, Pax and Lux.
‘Hoping for the safe return of Cory and Yeon-su, to their beautiful family, and friends and colleagues, and to the society they have given so much and in which they love and cherish so much,’ wrote another person was. ‘God speed.’
The couple went missing in Puerto Pensaco, Mexico. The vacation destination full of sandy beaches is about 300 miles south of the Arizona border
Rocky Point, Mexico also known as Peñasco
It’s unclear where the couple’s children live, but unused funds in the GoFundMe account will go toward their educational and other miscellaneous needs.
‘If and when the search ends and no expenses are incurred, the funds will be put into an account set up for the educational and other needs of Cory and Yeon-su’s children,’ Oumak wrote on the fundraising page. ‘
Omac describes herself as being Lux’s “Flagstaff Grandma” — who taught her to swim — because her “real” grandparents live in Arizona and outside the country.
‘I taught her to sew and helped her enter sewing and baking projects at the county fair,’ Omac wrote. He has fun all night at my house. He and my granddaughter are very close friends. Anyone who wants more credentials can message me.
As of Sunday afternoon, $56,650 of the $100,000 had been raised.
