FDNY officials say they received a report around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday of a 17-year-old boy missing in the water at Beach 73rd Street and Shore Front Parkway.
Police sources told Eyewitness News that the victim went into the ocean with his friend. They say the victim was overtaken by a wave at the same time as his friend was able to come back up.
The victim's friends and others had desperately tried to grab 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," said 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 units combed the rough water for the teen before suspending their search Tuesday night.
Search underway in Rockaway Beach for missing 18-year-old swimmer
Watching the first responders was a distraught group of kids.
"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," said witness Julian Eastmead.
The teen from the Bronx escaped to the beach with friends on a hot day.
Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers told Eyewitness News that she asked the police and firefighters to search again, saying as a mom, she would want to know everything possible was done to save someone's child.
"Unfortunately, this is too common in Rockaway. This is how we kick off our summers most years," Brooks-Powers said. "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 will be in place watching the water starting Friday when the beach opens for the season, but some lifeguards were actually in the area doing prep work and did what they could, joining that initial, unsuccessful rescue effort for the teen in the water. Those who know this beach well said it's not for the inexperienced swimmer.
"I almost drowned from being in this beach too, so the tides are nothing to play with," said 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 injuries was evaluated by EMS on the scene and refused medical transport. One civilian, the 17-year-old boy, remains missing.
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