Mansfield ISD high schooler missing in Gulf of Mexico near Corpus Christi

A Mansfield ISD high schooler went missing in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday morning.

Authorities told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times police were called to a beach about 11 a.m. after the 16-year-old boy became separated from the other swimmers in the water. A police spokesman said the teen was not an experienced swimmer.

Mansfield ISD officials sent home a letter with students on Friday that said the missing student was a ninth grader from Lake Ridge High School. A group of students and chaperones was in Corpus Christi for the SkillsUSA state competition.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Corpus Christi firefighters and police were searching the choppy waters on Friday for the missing teen. A boat and helicopter were deployed to search the water, but the weather forced the boat back to shore.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the student's family as the rescue crews continue their search efforts,” Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas said in the letter. “The Mansfield ISD community is doing everything we can at this time to provide comfort and assistance to the family and to our students.”

The other students at the competition will be returning to Mansfield. Students from Lake Ridge held a prayer vigil for the 16-year-old Friday night.

The search was suspended Friday due to the weather and will continue to assess throughout the night. They hope to resume the search as soon as they can.