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| 2 Teenagers Missing in Heavy Surf Off Rockaway Beach | 2 Teenagers Missing in Heavy Surf Off Rockaway Beach |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police divers, boats and helicopters on Tuesday were searching the water off Rockaway Beach, where the churning surf has long been a notorious site of drownings, looking for two missing teenage boys last seen in the ocean. | Police divers, boats and helicopters on Tuesday were searching the water off Rockaway Beach, where the churning surf has long been a notorious site of drownings, looking for two missing teenage boys last seen in the ocean. |
| The initial report of three missing teens came in at 3:32 p.m. on Tuesday. When rescue crews arrived, they found one of the teenagers, a 15-year-old boy, had been rescued by a good Samaritan, the police said. A witness said the rescuer was a surfer. | The initial report of three missing teens came in at 3:32 p.m. on Tuesday. When rescue crews arrived, they found one of the teenagers, a 15-year-old boy, had been rescued by a good Samaritan, the police said. A witness said the rescuer was a surfer. |
| That boy told officers that his friends, one 15, the other 16, were still in the water. No lifeguards have been on duty there since the end of beach season last month, a park official said. | |
| The police, Fire Department divers and the Coast Guard began a rescue operation, with the latter sending crews from stations in Jones Beach and Sandy Hook. Police boats cruised slowly along the surf as the sun descended. | The police, Fire Department divers and the Coast Guard began a rescue operation, with the latter sending crews from stations in Jones Beach and Sandy Hook. Police boats cruised slowly along the surf as the sun descended. |
| But by evening, the operation had shifted to recovery, with officers searching for swimmers presumed drowned. | But by evening, the operation had shifted to recovery, with officers searching for swimmers presumed drowned. |
| The arrival of rescuers is a grimly familiar sight to regulars at the beach.“When you see them pull up to the beach, you just know,” said Daniel Volpe, 37, who lives nearby. “You know when you see the helicopters circling that someone drowned.” | The arrival of rescuers is a grimly familiar sight to regulars at the beach.“When you see them pull up to the beach, you just know,” said Daniel Volpe, 37, who lives nearby. “You know when you see the helicopters circling that someone drowned.” |
| Tuesday’s events followed a particularly deadly summer at the popular Queens beaches. A 15-year-old who drowned in Jamaica Bay in August was the fourth drowning in the Rockaways in about a month, prompting Donovan Richards, the city councilman from that area, to call for “a state of emergency.” | Tuesday’s events followed a particularly deadly summer at the popular Queens beaches. A 15-year-old who drowned in Jamaica Bay in August was the fourth drowning in the Rockaways in about a month, prompting Donovan Richards, the city councilman from that area, to call for “a state of emergency.” |
| “It’s hotter than normal, and a lot of our folks don’t have access to air conditioning,” he said in August. | “It’s hotter than normal, and a lot of our folks don’t have access to air conditioning,” he said in August. |
| All four deaths were on or near the east side of the Rockaway Peninsula, Mr. Richards said. Two of the deaths were a couple — a young woman teaching her boyfriend how to swim. | All four deaths were on or near the east side of the Rockaway Peninsula, Mr. Richards said. Two of the deaths were a couple — a young woman teaching her boyfriend how to swim. |
| After those deaths, Crystal Howard, a spokeswoman for the parks department, implored New Yorkers to only go swimming in designated beaches with lifeguards on duty. | After those deaths, Crystal Howard, a spokeswoman for the parks department, implored New Yorkers to only go swimming in designated beaches with lifeguards on duty. |
| Luis Jimenez, 26, a sous-chef from Harlem, arrived for a swim, but when he set his bag down on the beach to change, the wind carried away his shorts. “Thank God my shorts blew away,” he said later, “or else I would have gone in the water and I might have drowned, too.” | Luis Jimenez, 26, a sous-chef from Harlem, arrived for a swim, but when he set his bag down on the beach to change, the wind carried away his shorts. “Thank God my shorts blew away,” he said later, “or else I would have gone in the water and I might have drowned, too.” |
| Most beach drownings in New York City have occurred after hours. | Most beach drownings in New York City have occurred after hours. |
| Thirty-four people drowned at public beaches from 2009 through the beginning of August, according to figures from the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. | Thirty-four people drowned at public beaches from 2009 through the beginning of August, according to figures from the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. |
| Only six of the drownings happened while a lifeguard was on duty. | Only six of the drownings happened while a lifeguard was on duty. |
| Lifeguards are on duty during beach season, from Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 8. Swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not present. | Lifeguards are on duty during beach season, from Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 8. Swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not present. |
| A higher rate of drownings in New York have occurred at beaches compared to pools. | A higher rate of drownings in New York have occurred at beaches compared to pools. |
| Between 1987 and 2010, 171 drownings have occurred at New York State facilities, according to figures from the state Department of Health. Nearly half of the drownings were at pools; the rest were at beaches. | Between 1987 and 2010, 171 drownings have occurred at New York State facilities, according to figures from the state Department of Health. Nearly half of the drownings were at pools; the rest were at beaches. |
| But there are more than 6,000 pool facilities, compared with about 1,600 beach facilities. | But there are more than 6,000 pool facilities, compared with about 1,600 beach facilities. |
| New York City has eight beaches and 53 outdoor pools, and about 1,400 lifeguards. | New York City has eight beaches and 53 outdoor pools, and about 1,400 lifeguards. |
| Rebecca Liebson contributed reporting. | Rebecca Liebson contributed reporting. |