Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend’s daughter and grandson were missing and presumed dead after a canoeing accident, the family has confirmed. Townsend confirmed later that the search had transitioned to a recovery operation.
Townsend is the eldest daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, who was assaassinated in 1968, and the niece of President John F. Kennedy, who also was assassinated five years earlier in Dallas.
Townsend’s daughter, Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, and her 8-year-old son, Gideon, got into a canoe Thursday in the water of Chesapeake Bay off their home in Shady Side, Maryland, inorder to get back a ball and were unable to paddle back to the shore, according to the police sources of Maryland.
Later, Townsend released a statement Friday night saying that, with profound sadness, she is sharing the news that the search for her beloved daughter Maeve and her grandson Gideon has turned from rescue to recovery.
She continued to say that, their hearts are crushed, yet they shall try to summon the grace of God and what strength they had to honor the hope, energy and passion that Maeve and Gideon set forth into the world,” the statement continued to say that, her family is thanking all for the outpouring of love and prayers as they grieve and try to bear this devastating loss.”
The family requires privacy as of now, and had asked all to keep them in their prayers. The grandson of RFK, Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III, posted Saturday morning on Twitter, that their family had lost two of the brightest lights.