A 14-year-old boy drowned while swimming in the rough ocean waters of Far Rockaway, Queens, on Sunday evening, July 2.
The tragedy happened near Beach 75th Street at approximately 5:45 pm, a short time after the official closing of the beach due to thunderstorms.
Onlookers, visibly shaken by the incident, shared accounts of the boy being carried onto the beach, where he appeared unresponsive. They mentioned that he was foaming at the mouth and “blue from head to toe”.
Caught in the throes of stormy seas, the 14-year-old remained underwater for several harrowing minutes before rescuers managed to reach him. Among the first to respond was a retired lifeguard, alerted by the distinctive whistle calls signaling an emergency.
Speaking about the incident, Basia Lewandowski, the retired lifeguard who was assisting a friend at the time, explained, “It’s a unique whistle sound we use to signal emergency situations.”
While Lewandowski communicated with rescuers from the shore, her friend, along with several others, braved the turbulent waves to reach the boy. Tragically, by the time they managed to reach him, it was too late.
Lewandowski detailed the distressing scene, saying, “He had taken in a lot of water. He must have been underwater for four or five minutes.”
As the rescuers struggled, the boy’s mother watched on, praying for a miracle. The devastating event left a profound impact not only on the grieving mother but also on the rescuers, who were visibly upset by the unsuccessful rescue.
The Parks Department stated that no lifeguards were present at the time as the beach had been closed early due to the weather, and red flags were displayed to alert swimmers of the dangerous conditions.
The teenager’s identity is being withheld, and further details regarding the unfortunate incident have not been disclosed yet.
