It has been two weeks since the boating accident on November 2nd three members of a Tehama County family disappear beneath the waves of Bodega Bay. The family’s eldest son, Tristan Saephan, says the massive amount of community support they’ve received since has been a big help, but it’s hard to fill the void in his heart.

I said, “Okay, I love you. I’ll see you on Sunday, and you know I didn’t think those would be the last words I’d say to him.

Tristan Saephan recalled his last words to JJ Phommathep, his younger brother, one of three members of his family lost in the crash. Tristan is the eldest child of the family. He is currently in college, and while in previous years he has gone out with his father Johnny and brothers JJ and Jake on their regular crabbing trips, he has had to miss school this year.

“My dad asked me if I wanted to go the next day on Monday and I said I couldn’t,” he recalls.

He said he was so happy he didn’t end up on the boat too, but heartbroken at the loss of his 17- and 14-year-old brothers. He says that after going on the same boat several times, he never thought there was any chance he wouldn’t see them later. He said goodbye to his brother JJ at JJ’s soccer game the Friday before.

I wrote to them: “Drive safely. Dad, I love you, see you on Sunday, but unfortunately it didn’t happen,

he said between sobs.

Tristan says he’s been in shock for the past two weeks trying to process the loss of people he thought he’d spend a lifetime with.

“I’m always thinking about my brothers and how I can’t see them on the weekends anymore, or just talk to them like I want to,” he says, his voice cracking as he says it. “The reality just sets in that they ‘I’m really gone, but my conscience knows they’re gone, it’s just my head, my heart still thinks I’m here.’

A the vigil was held in Bodega Bay where family and friends gathered to mourn those who didn’t make it home.

Jaja Balderama, trainer at Shasta Boxing Club in Redding is close friends with Tiffany Phommathep, the mother of the family. Balderama says when she and her partner heard, they knew they wanted to help and decided to host a charity Spar-A-Thon Friday, November 22 for the family.

Jaja Balderama, trainer at Shasta Boxing Club in Redding is close friends with Tiffany Phommathep, the mother of the family. Balderama says when she and her partner heard, they knew they wanted to help and decided to host a charity Spar-A-Thon Friday, November 22 for the family.

“I don’t know how else I can help them, they help us a lot,” she says. “My daughter and I help a lot.”

Tristan says he gives his love to them and everyone else who has supported his family, but says he only wishes his younger siblings hadn’t lost so much.

“The idea that my little brother will never get to know my father or see him ever again breaks my heart,” he says. “They’re not going to have the guidance that I have in my life, it’s terrible.”

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family, you can find it here.