Parents Of White Plains Teen Swept Away In Hawaii Criticize Tour Group
CAPTAIN COOK, Hawaii (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The parents of a White Plains teen swept out to sea in Hawaii are criticizing a tour company's handling of the search.
Fifteen-year-old Tyler Madoff's parents say Bold Earth Teen Adventures showed poor judgment and no staff members stayed at the site to search for their son.
"This may be our only opportunity to share with other families considering such a tour, our experience with this company and its representatives," Michael Madoff said at a news conference Sunday at a Big Island resort. "None of the Bold Earth people stayed on the site to continue the search for our son Tyler."
Tyler and another 15-year-old boy were washed out to sea last week while taking a break from a guided kayak tour with 11 other teens and two counselors. An official said the two stopped to explore a tidal pool and were hit by high surf.
"Their pain is inconceivable, there are no words," Abbott Wallis, founder of Bold Earth Adventures, told Hawaii News Now. "We would do anything in our power to have this tragedy to not have occurred."
The owner of the kayak company told the Hawaii news station that the guides jumped in to save boys, but couldn't reach Tyler. A passing boat picked up the other teen who was last listed in critical condition at the hospital.
Speaking to the Journal News on Monday, Abbott said four adult guides and about 10 other teen members of the group searched for Tyler until nightfall the day he went missing.
Michael and Marianne Madoff are now back home in White Plains to be with their other children.
A final search for Tyler is expected to be conducted Monday, according to published reports.
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