New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, during his daily coronavirus briefing on Saturday, took a moment to address the tragic disappearance of his ex-wife’s niece and her son.
Maeve Kennedy McKean, a granddaughter of former US Attorney General Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, disappeared while canoeing with her 8-year-old son in the Chesapeake Bay on Thursday and both are now presumed dead.
Tragic turn of events
The McKean family was self-quarantining at Maeve’s mother’s house in Shady Side, Maryland.
She and 8-year-old Gideon went missing after getting in a canoe to retrieve a ball that had landed in the water. The Coast Guard was called in to search for the pair on Friday, and the capsized canoe was found several miles away.
“They got into a canoe, intending simply to retrieve the ball, and somehow got pushed by wind or tide into the open bay,” McKean’s husband David disclosed.
“About 30 minutes later they were spotted by an onlooker from land, who saw them far out from shore, and called the police. After that last sighting, they were not seen again. The Coast Guard recovered their canoe, which was capsized and miles away, at approximately 6:30 (Thursday) evening.”
After the initial oast Guard search, David McKean announced on Friday, “it is clear that Maeve and Gideon have passed away.”
Cuomo was married to Maeve McKean’s aunt, Kerry Kennedy, for 13 years and shares three daughters with her. He said that the tragic ordeal has been “emotionally taxing,” and mourned the loss of his three daughters’ beloved relative.
“The most difficult level is the human level, it is for me, anyway,” he said. “My daughters’ cousins have a tragedy. They can’t hug each other, they can’t be with each other to grieve together.”
Kennedy family rocked
McKean is survived by her husband, David, and children Toby, 2, and Gabriella, 7.
McKean’s mother, former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, said in a statement, “My heart is crushed, yet we shall try to summon the grace of God and what strength we have to honor the hope, energy and passion that Maeve and Gideon set forth into the world.”
Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA) tweeted on Saturday, “We love you Maeve. We love you Gideon. Our family has lost two of the brightest lights. Grateful for the prayers. Hold your loved ones tight.”
No comments: