What was supposed to be a relaxing Florida vacation for one family ended in heartbreak when 10-year-old Trinity Eslinger disappeared in the ocean just off the coast of Destin. Now, her mom’s longtime boyfriend, Victor Cobbs, is sharing his emotional recollection of those final moments with her—and the desperate attempts to save her.
In a nearly hour-long YouTube livestream, Cobbs, who lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas, opened up about the terrifying chain of events that unfolded the evening Trinity went missing.
Cobbs said he, Trinity, and his own son Kingston were washing off in the water after a day at East Jetty beach when all three suddenly got caught in a powerful current. “I didn’t want anybody to panic,” he explained, so he calmly told the kids to try walking back to shore.
But it didn’t work.
Kingston and Trinity tried swimming instead. Kingston, who had just learned how to float on the trip, managed to stay above water. Unfortunately, Trinity hadn’t been taught yet. “She slipped away,” Cobbs said quietly, remembering her as “very thoughtful” and incredibly close to his daughter. The two girls had even spent part of the trip making Father’s Day cards.
Trinity’s mom, Raven Cush, came rushing into the water after hearing the screams. A nearby boat pulled up and rescued Kingston, while two men on board jumped in to help Trinity and Raven.
According to Cobbs, one of the men tried multiple times to reach Trinity after she slipped from Raven’s grip. Despite their best efforts, she couldn’t be found.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said Trinity was last seen around 7:30 p.m. between Osteen Beach and Norriego Point. Since then, rescue crews from multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and local fire departments, have joined the massive search using drones, dive teams, boats, and even airplanes.
“Everything was happening so fast,” Cobbs recalled. “It seemed like, immediately, there were coast guard and lifeguards right there searching for Trin.”
As night fell and visibility dropped, the family had to return to their Airbnb. Their host generously paid for two extra nights at a hotel to give them time to regroup while the search continued.
Trinity still hasn’t been found. But her family isn’t giving up.
Cobbs said loved ones have traveled to Destin to help search, and he’s encouraging anyone nearby to get involved. “Get in your boats and your jet skis, your kayaks and go to all the shores and the beaches and the docks and the bridges and look around,” he urged.
The family is also hoping to find the two men who tried to save Trinity to thank them personally.
In a June 16 update to PEOPLE, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that search operations are ongoing. “We know our community is anxiously awaiting updates,” they said, “and we want to assure everyone that as soon as any official information becomes available, it will be shared.”
A GoFundMe has been launched to support the family’s ongoing search efforts, helping cover the cost of equipment, travel, and accommodations.
As of now, the family is holding onto hope, asking for prayers, and doing everything they can to bring Trinity home.