A 17-year-old swimmer from the Bronx went missing after being pulled out to sea by a riptide near Beach 73rd Street and Shorefront Parkway in Arverne around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Search efforts resumed at first light Wednesday across an 11-mile stretch of coastline in the Rockaways. No lifeguards were on duty due to mid-90s temperatures, and lifeguards would not staff beaches until Saturday for Memorial Day weekend. Dozens of teens formed human chains during senior cut day, later replaced by FDNY swimmers. NYPD Aviation helicopters, drones, and additional marine units searched, but the swimmer was not found before sundown. Police from multiple precincts joined the operation. Council Member Joann Ariola emphasized staying out of the water when lifeguards are absent and practicing water safety.
"The search for a missing teenage swimmer from the Bronx resumed at first light on Wednesday in the Rockaways a day after the 17-year-old was pulled out to sea by the notorious riptide off Beach 73rd Street and Shorefront Parkway in Arverne just before just after 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. There were no lifeguards on duty in the Rockaways as the temperature spiked into the mid-90s, and there won't be lifeguards staffing the beaches until Saturday when the swim season gets underway on Memorial Day weekend."
"Dozens of teens taking part in the traditional senior cut day in the Rockaways raced into the surf to form human chains in the hopes of finding their missing friend to no avail. They were replaced by FDNY swimmers. NYPD Aviation choppers joined in the search along with drone operators and additional marine units who were unable to locate him before sundown. Police from the 100th Precinct in Rockaway Beach and the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway joined the operation on Wednesday searching the 11-miles of coastline along the peninsula for any sign of the missing youngster having been washed ashore during the overnight hours."
""My heart breaks for this young person and their loved ones," Council Member Joann Ariola said. "This tragedy is a stark reminder that people need to stay out of the water when lifeguards are not on duty. Even if it's a beautiful warm day, conditions in the ocean can quickly become deadly even for experienced swimmers and beach goers absolutely must practice water safety and only swim where lifeguards are present.""
"Two off-duty lifeguards raced into the surf off Beach 90th Street in Rockaway Beach and pulled another teenager who got caught in a riptide on Tuesday. He sustained minor injuries and was checked out by EMS but refused further medical attention at the scene, police said."
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