Grieving Sister Of Man Found After Jumping In Inlet: 'He Was My Life'

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A grieving family is devastated by the loss of a young man whose body was found Saturday after he attempted to swim across the Shinnecock Inlet early Thursday.

Speaking with Patch, Kristel Escorcia described the unthinkable loss of her brother Jhon Escorcia-Arroyo. "He was my life," she said, her voice aching with pain. "My younger brother."

Her brother, she said, "was so handsome, always happy, always smiling. He wanted to make a good life for everybody in the future. He was just 22."

Her mother, she added, is inconsolable. "She's not good. He was her younger son. This is a terrible heartache. It's not easy. I miss him so much."

Escorcia said both she and her mother, who stayed beneath the bridge, scanning the water for Jhon, felt communication with police during the days of the search was lacking. "They didn't answer, when we called," she said.

Southampton Town Police did not immediately respond to Escorcia's statement. Southampton Town Police had an extensive search underway during the time Escorica-Arroyo was missing.

Escorcia said the truth is difficult to bear. "I'm feeling really badly," she said. On social media, along with a photo of them both, she wrote, "You live in my heart, you beautiful angel."

The body of Escorcia-Arroyo, of Westhampton, was found on the south side of the Shinnecock Canal, Southampton Town Police said Saturday. His family was told that he was located, police said.

A GoFundMe page, "Donate to help Escorcia Arroyo Family," was created by Kimberly Manfredi-Cruz of Hampton Bays to send his body home.

"Jhon Escorcia Arroyo was a 22-year-old boy born in Costa Rica from a town called El Carmen de Biolley," the page said. He was one of five children, born to a humble working family, she said.

"He arrived in the United States four years ago in search of a better future. Not knowing that on July 14, 2022 he would tragically lose his life trying to cross the Shinnecock Canal in Hampton Bays," she said. "Today his family and friends remember him as a person with a pure heart, full of love, willing to always say 'yes' and a smile that would never erase from his face. The Escorcia-Arroyo family asks for your collaboration to help with funeral expenses and repatriate to his country of origin. We thank you in advance for any donation."

A desperate search was ongoing since Thursday when Escorcia-Arroyo jumped into the inlet, stating that he was trying to swim across the Shinnecock Canal, police said.

According to Southampton Town Police, at 2:11 a.m., a woman called saying that her companion was missing after jumping into the water. Escorcia-Arroyo left Dream nightclub and jumped into the inlet, police said.

The female companion lost sight of him after a few minutes; she attempted to locate him on her own for several minutes and then contacted the police, authorities said.

Southampton Town Police patrol units responded and requested additional resources. A Southampton Town Police unmanned aircraft unit, Southampton Town Police detectives, a Southampton Village Police K-9 unit, Southampton Town Police bay constables and fire marshals, the United States Coast Guard, and the Hampton Bays, North Sea, and Southampton Fire Departments all responded to assist with the search, police said.

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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