A 19-year-old University of Kentucky sophomore's midnight swim in the Mediterranean Sea reportedly turned horribly awry.
TeNiya Nora Jones went missing on the evening of Saturday, July 28 in Tel Aviv, Israel, Times of Israel reports. Jones was only two days away from returning home from the Middle Eastern trip when she went missing.
According to WKYT, Jones was participating in a study abroad program in Amman to learn about the Arabic language. Seven students from the U.K. and two students from West Virginia University were also part of the program.
The program was based in Amman, Jordan. Jones, along with two other U.K. students and one from West Virginia University traveled to Tel Aviv for the weekend. Shortly after midnight in Israel, the three U.K. students went swimming. One stayed behind in a Tel Aviv hotel. Jones was reportedly swept away by the ocean's current.
The bodies of a man and woman were found early Monday, July 30, with the latter of which is believed to be Jones. Jones' mother and grandmother will be traveling to Tel Aviv via the U.K. Education Abroad and Associate Provost Sue Roberts will meet with the family and officials in Israel.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with TeNiya, her family and the students and others impacted,” noted University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto in a statement. “We are in continual contact with Teniya’s family, officials in Israel, officials from the State Department and our Congressional delegation, to provide all the support we can for the family, students and others involved. We will do everything possible to provide whatever support is needed.”
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