Rockaway Beach lacking swimmer: Divers resume search in water for 17-year-old boy in Rockaways, Queens

ROCKAWAY BEACH, Queens (WABC) — The search to discover a younger swimmer resumed on Wednesday morning after he went lacking within the waters of Rockaway Beach on Tuesday.

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

Police sources instructed Eyewitness News that the sufferer went into the ocean together with his good friend. They say the sufferer was overtaken by a wave similtaneously his good friend was capable of come again up.

The sufferer’s associates 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 started crying so bad for the boy because 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 items combed the tough water for the teenager earlier than suspending their search Tuesday night time.

One beachgoer who has lived within the space for 50 years mentioned he has seen tragedy after tragedy within the waters and says metropolis officers must do extra.

“They need a little bit more patrol out here to supervise the kids because the kids are going to be mischievous, a little bit more supervision, a little bit more patrol to stop them and prevent them from actually going into the water, even if there aren’t any lifeguards,” resident James Spann mentioned.

On Wednesday, New York City Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura urged folks to solely swim when lifeguards are on responsibility.

“We take every incident like this incredibly seriously, most importantly, we think about the safety of our patrons, we think about the safety of our staff, and so its really just underscores the importance of making sure that you are only going in the water when our lifeguards, our trained professionals, our heroes, are out looking out for you,” Shimamura mentioned.

Lifeguards might be in place watching the water beginning Friday when the seashore opens for the season. They might be on responsibility from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m.

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