Los Angeles Grieves 7-Year-Old Noah Lara, East Long Beach Pony Baseball Player Who Drowned in a Pool as Church Community Rallies and Urges Water Safety
The Bayside Apostolic Center in Los Angeles, California, is grieving the heartbrekaing loss of 7-year-old Noah Lara, a bright and energetic East Long Beach Pony Baseball player whose life ended after a devestating drowning incident. Four weeks ago, loved ones found Noah unresponsive in a swimming pool. First responders rushed him to the ICU, and medical teams fought for him around the clock as the communtiy prayed and waited.
Doctors later reported that Noah had no brain function, even as his organs continued to work with support. Family members and congregation leaders stayed close at the hospital, holding quiet vigils and sharing stories of a boy who loved the game, cheered for his teammates, and never left a practice without a high-five. In the days that followed, supporters lifted up meals, rides, and the simple ministry of presence for the Lara family. There is no words for the sorrow.
Noah peacefuly passed away after those weeks in critical care, leaving a tender absence in the pews on Sunday and along the baselines where he once ran. Leaders at the Bayside Apostolic Center offered heartfelt condolences, asking the faithful across Los Angeles to keep his parents and extended familly in their prayers. The church spoke plainly about grief, about how it comes in waves, and about the hope that carries people through the hardest nights.
Friends from East Long Beach Pony Baseball described Noah as the kid who sprinted to warmups and listened closely to his coaches. “He encouraged the younger ones and celebrated every clean catch,” one parent shared in the community’s remembrance, noting how the team plans to honor him by placing his cap on the dugout bench during their next game. Teammates will sign baseballs for his family, a small gesture to say what words cannot.
As people gather to mourn, many are also reflecting on water safety. Pastors and parents alike are reminding neighbors that even familiar pools present real danger for children. They encourage layered protections—constant, dedicated supervision; locked barriers; swim lessons; and prompt CPR when needed. The call is simple and urgent: let Noah’s memory move us toward deeper vigilence around water, especially during late-summer gatherings when distractions rise.
In living rooms across the city, the Lara family’s circle of support continues to widen. Congregants are organizing meal trains and transportation help, while youth leaders plan a quiet remembrance where children can draw, talk, or sit in silence. Coaches intend to hold a moment of reflection before the next practice, inviting young players to remember Noah’s quick smile and the way he clapped for others’ success. His teammates still holds his glove by the dugout.
Loss settles differently for every person, but its impact on a neighborhood is shared. In honoring Noah, Los Angeles and East Long Beach are choosing to show up—bringing tenderness to a devastated family and turning grief into care for other children. Tonight, candles will glow, prayers will rise, and stories of a joyful 7-year-old will ripple outward, reminding all of us that a community’s love can hold even the heaviest ache.