Rockaway Beach lacking swimmer: Divers looking out water for 17-year-old boy

ROCKAWAY BEACH, Queens (WABC) — The search to discover a younger swimmer, who went lacking within the waters of Rockaway Beach on Tuesday, has confirmed unsuccessful to this point.

FDNY officers say they acquired a report round 3:30 p.m. of a 17-year-old boy lacking within the water at Beach 73rd Street and Shore Front Parkway.

Police sources informed Eyewitness News that the sufferer went into the ocean together with his good friend. They say the sufferer was overtaken by a wave concurrently his good friend was in a position to come again up.

The sufferer’s buddies and others had desperately tried to seize him as he struggled.

“Literally, trying to pull him back in. But how far they were into the water, it swept him out of his hand,” mentioned witness Nemiah Dos Santos. “And I just I started crying so bad for the boy because it’s like it’s one thing to see that happen, but it’s another thing to be the person trying at least to help.”

An NYPD helicopter, FDNY rescue swimmers, drones and marine models combed the tough water for the teenager earlier than suspending their search Tuesday evening.

Watching the primary responders was a distraught group of youngsters.

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

The teen from the Bronx escaped to the seashore with buddies on a scorching day. Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers informed Eyewitness News that she requested the police and firefighters to go looking once more, saying as a mother, she would need to know the whole lot attainable was accomplished to avoid wasting somebody’s little one.

“Unfortunately, this is too common in Rockaway. This is how we kick off our summers most years,” Brooks-Powers mentioned. “There has been a call from the community to get investments on the boardwalk to have an emergency alarm system. We need to revisit that conversation. Trauma hospital here, we don’t have, either.”

Lifeguards might be in place watching the water beginning Friday when the seashore opens for the season, however some lifeguards have been really within the space doing prep work and did what they may, becoming a member of that preliminary, unsuccessful rescue effort for the teenager within the water. Those who know this seashore effectively mentioned it isn’t for the inexperienced swimmer.

“I almost drowned from being in this beach too, so the tides are nothing to play with,” mentioned neighbor Halimah Sylla. “So, it was really, really scary. And I actually knew somebody that passed away like a few years ago. And it’s sad. But if you don’t know how to swim, I don’t suggest you ever be in this beach because it’s nothing to play with.”

One civilian with minor accidents was evaluated by EMS on the scene and refused medical transport. One civilian, the 17-year-old boy, stays lacking.

The scene has been turned over to the NYPD. The investigation is ongoing.

———-

* More Queens information

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking information alerts

* Download our linked TV app

Submit a tip or story thought to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking information tip or an thought for a narrative we should always cowl? Send it to Eyewitness News utilizing the shape beneath. If attaching a video or photograph, phrases of use apply.