Swimmer Missing at Rockaway Beach During Thunderstorm
A 22-year-old man has been reported missing after last being seen swimming off the eastern end of Rockaway Beach in Far Rockaway, Queens, on Friday evening. Authorities received a 911 call alerting them to the situation at 6:13 p.m., indicating the young man had entered the water near the intersection of Beach 20th Street and Seagirt Boulevard.
In response to the call, the New York Police Department (NYPD) deployed multiple units, including their Harbor Unit, Emergency Service Unit, Scuba Unit, and Aviation Unit, to conduct a thorough search for the individual. As of Saturday morning, two scuba teams were still actively searching the waters in an effort to locate the missing swimmer.
Witnesses reported that thunderstorms swept across the New York City area throughout Friday afternoon, creating potentially hazardous swimming conditions at the time the man entered the water. Reports indicate that the individual originally hails from Niger, and it was noted that he was enjoying only his second day off work in two years. As of now, authorities have not released the man’s identity.
The ongoing investigation highlights the dangers associated with swimming at Rockaway Beach, which is frequently referred to as one of New York City’s most perilous beaches due to its strong undertow. This reputation is reinforced by previous incidents; just five days prior to the current search, emergency responders discovered a man’s body floating in the waters near Beach 97th Street and Shore Front Parkway, approximately four miles west of the location where the 22-year-old disappeared. Authorities believe this individual may have been a swimmer who vanished two weeks earlier, though the condition of the body has delayed identification by the city’s medical examiner.
As of Saturday evening, officials had not provided additional information regarding the identification of the body found earlier in the week. The Police Department continues to investigate both incidents, underscoring the hazardous conditions that can arise in the waters off Rockaway Beach.
The situation remains fluid, with updates expected as emergency personnel continue their search and investigation into these troubling events.
