Update: Former Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend released a statement tonight saying that the rescue effort by the Coast Guard has turned into a recovery effort: “With profound sadness, I share the news that the search for my beloved daughter Maeve and grandson Gideon has turned from rescue to recovery.”

The Kennedy family has been hit with another heartbreaking tragedy. Just last summer, one of the late Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughters died of an accidental overdose while visiting the family’s Hyannis Port estate.

Now there are reports that two members of the Kennedy family went missing after a kayak capsized on the Chesapeake Bay. After 24 hours, Maryland’s Governor says the search continues for Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughter, Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, and her 8-year-old son, Gideon (pictured below), who were reported missing Thursday.

Maeve in pink pictured below with her son on the right:

The Kennedy family is gathered at a waterfront house where kids were playing with a ball that was kicked into the water. Maeve and her son jumped into a kayak to find the ball in the water but were unable to paddle back to shore. According to the Coast Guard, winds in the area were high, and the mother and son were “seen struggling to return to shore in a canoe.”

According to the Baltimore Sun, the family is gathered at a waterfront home (pictured above), and children were playing with a ball in the yard Thursday afternoon when it was kicked into the bay. Maeve and her son hopped in a canoe to track down the ball, but they were unable to paddle back to shore.

 

A search has been on for 24 hours with no sign of the mother and son. Please pray for the family.

Maeve is the daughter, and Gideon is the grandson of former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend pictured below: