17-year-old nonetheless lacking after going into water within the Rockaways

The search has resumed for a teen swimmer who went lacking within the Rockaways on Tuesday afternoon.

A 17-year-old boy went into the water with mates close to Beach 73rd Street and Shore Front Parkway round 3:30 p.m. and has not been seen since, police say.

The search was suspended for the evening on Tuesday, however crews had been out Wednesday morning to proceed on the lookout for the teenager. 

Large search social gathering for lacking teen

Witnesses mentioned the boy’s mates tried to drag him out of the water when he bumped into bother, however he slipped again in.

“They were screaming and yelling and, like, losing their mind,” witness Nemiah dos Santos mentioned. “I saw the kid, I literally saw his body, to his arm, to his hand.”

“It was just literally tears, cellphone in hand, crying, trying to tell whoever brought them to the beach that they’re not gonna be able to bring whoever was at the beach with them home,” one other witness mentioned.

Video exhibits individuals forming a human chain within the water earlier within the night, making an attempt to soundly assist in the search.

While the temperatures have been heat, the FDNY mentioned divers skilled tough surf throughout their search. The division additionally mentioned drones had been used to watch the state of affairs and that marine models assisted alongside the shoreline and offshore.

The NYPD says its SCUBA unit and air models additionally helped with the search.

“I saw the helicopter come down. To my understanding, I think it was like a search party, like groups of people, like walking 50 feet into the water and then coming back,” one witness mentioned.

“We just hear commotion, a bunch of helicopters. It got super windy. It was like a sandstorm — people were running off the beach,” a girl added.

Swimming risks

Lifeguards weren’t on obligation Tuesday as a result of seashores haven’t but opened for the season, which begins Saturday.

“It’s tragic. We hear about it every year. What can we do?” beachgoer Alexandra Koval mentioned.

“You go from being two inches in the water to being 25 feet in the water, and if you don’t know that, you could get hurt,” dos Santos mentioned.

“It was going to be a nice day and like, that’s understandable,” beachgoer Jasmine Holmes-Colon mentioned, “but you still have to be careful when you’re outside, especially in Rockaway. Things happen like rip currents.”

Officials are as soon as once more reminding New Yorkers in regards to the risks of swimming in unguarded waters.

In: