Grand Beach drowning victims David Medina and Jhonalyn Javier mourned

Relatives and friends of two young Winnipeg friendswho drowned at Grand Beach on Monday evening are remembering them as sweet kidsand mourning their tragic deaths.

David Medina, 12,and Jhonalyn Javier, 11,were pulled from the water at the western edgeof West Beach, near Grand Beach's popular boardwalk area along Lake Winnipeg.

"Very polite boy I missed him already," Cindy Isabelo, one of Medina's aunts, wrote in a message to CBC News on Wednesday.

Isabelo is currentlyin the Philippines but said she is doing what she can to go to Winnipeg to support Medina's parents her sister and brother-in-law during this time.

"Such a sweet little boy," she wrote. "David loves hugs and kisses."

The families ofMedina and Javierboth immigratedto Canada from the Philippines in recent years. A Facebook message posted on their behalf says Medina's familycameto Winnipeg in November 2014, while Javier's family arrived in August 2015.

The Medina family is expected to issue a public statement on Thursday.

Jake Tolentino, a friend of both families, said he was "devastated" by news of the children's deaths.

"I do have a son as well, so when I heard the news I just sat on the couch and then cried," he said.

"I don't know what to do.... I feel helpless, I just tried to reach them but I don't know."

Jake Tolentino says both family and friends are devastated over drowning tragedy

8 years ago

Duration 0:31

Jake Tolentino says the young girl's family lived with him for 6 month after arriving in Winnipeg from the Philippines. When he found out what happened to the young kids he sat down on the couch and cried, not knowing what to do.

Pair went missing

RCMPsaid the children werein the water together, supervised by the boy's parents, when one of the parents lost track of the pair due to the setting sun.

Beach-goers reported seeing people searching for the two missing children, with searchers ultimately recovering their bodies from the lake.

Police were called at about 7:30 p.m. and a STARS air ambulance landed 30 metres from the water's edge 45 minutes later.

The two children had already been pulled ashore by the time emergency workers arrived on the scene, RCMP said. Witnesses said they saw lifeguards, police, firefighters and others clear the beach and try to resuscitate the children as they lay on the sand.

Tolentino, who met the Medina family through church, described David as "a tall guy" who loved sports.

"He has a lot of extracurricular activities like swimming as well [as] basketball cycling with his father and mother," he said.

Tolentino said Javier's family stayed with him for six months after they arrived in Winnipeg,and Jhonalyn became friends with his son.

"She loves to sing, dance, sketch," said Tolentino, who described the 11-year-oldas a sweet, typical kid.

"We do have these family activities we do swimming, camping or just go to a park, nearest park, and have a barbecue there or something like that."

Viewings for both children will take place Saturday evening at Mosaic Funeral Home on Inkster Boulevard. The service will be held Sunday.

Grand Beach drowning victims David Medina and Jhonalyn Javier mourned

8 years ago

Duration 1:42

Relatives and friends of two young Winnipeg friends who drowned at Grand Beach on Monday evening are remembering them as sweet kids and mourning their tragic deaths.