Boy, 17, believed to have drowned off Rockaways
A 17-year-old boy is believed to have drowned Saturday in the waters off the Rockaways, cops said.
NYPD divers were scouring the sea near Shore Front Parkway and Beach 84th St. after receiving a report of a missing swimmer about 5:05 p.m.
They had still not found the missing teen two hours later, prompting the search to become a recovery operation.
Witness Janessa Sosa said the teen was playing in the ocean with two friends when a current pulled him out into deep waters. The two pals tried to rescue him but nearly drowned themselves, she said.
“The wave took him,” added Janessa, 14. “His friends were crying bemain cause they felt like it was their fault.”
She said the teen was a junior at the nearby Channel View School for Research on Beach Channel Drive.
Other witnesses described seeing a phalanx of police and fire boats rush to the scene as choppers patrolled the waters from above.
“There were like five boats. It was very impressive,” said one witness who asked to regroup anonymous.
The man said a of surfers also joined in the search. “At that time no one was swimming anymore, but the surfers were paddling around looking for them too,” the witness said.
The man, who described himself as a strong swimmer, said he could see someone with limited experience in the water struggling in the currents.
“There were a lot of waves,” he added. “It was very strong.”