The parents of an 18-year-old Army recruit, who was knocked off his feet by a wave and swept away in Laguna Beach, on Friday thanked those involved in the search for their son, whose body has not been recovered.
“We want to thank everyone for the hard work and countless hours they’ve spent looking for our Anthony,” Jennifer and Foster Parnell of Las Vegas said in a joint statement, in which they singled out Orange County lifeguards, fire department and sheriff’s personnel, and Laguna Beach firefighters, police and lifeguards, among others.
The couple said they’ve “never seen so many people in a community come together and offer so many kind words and offer so much help to someone who they’ve never met. Every single person who was involved will be forever and ever a piece of our lives.”
The parents said their son “loved the ocean, the beach and always wanted to move back to California. The beach reminded him of his (grandfather) Papa Joe, who he loved and admired so much.”
They said their son was “loved by so many people” and described him as “a good kid who was respectful and would always help even if he didn’t want to.”
Parnell went missing near Thousand Steps beach in Laguna Beach on Sunday. Authorities called off their search Thursday after divers and a cadaver dog were unable to find the body.
His mother, standing today on the beach near where her son went missing, described him as a typical teen who wanted to play football or become a rap star. He had just enlisted in the Army.
“He loved this place,” she told NBC4. “Spiritually, I wanted him to know that I was there and I believe in that. I believe he knew I was standing there, waiting for him.”
Her husband had a warning for beachgoers.
“I saw the waves. I saw them coming in. They should have not been there,” he told Channel 4, referring to images he saw of his son taken just before he was swept off the rocks.
“Low tide, it’s one thing, but there’s signs over there that says no trespassing,” the grieving father said. “Don’t go, don’t go, there’s a reason.”
— City News Service