The search for the 15-year-old boy who went missing after being caught in the surf off Long Beach, Washington, has been officially suspended, as reported by several local news outlets. According to KIRO 7, the U.S. Coast Guard made the difficult decision after an extensive search operation failed to locate the teenager.
During the ordeal, two individuals from the boy's group attempted to quickly reach him but found themselves in distress and were subsequently rescued, as detailed by FOX 13 Seattle. These individuals were transported to Ocean Beach Hospital for treatment of possible hypothermia, while crews continued their search into the night. The Coast Guard suspended the search at 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
Greg Merten, the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, expressed the gravity of the situation, as quoted by KATU: "The act of suspending any search, let alone that of a 15-year-old, is something that the Coast Guard does not take lightly and not without a heavy heart," he said. "We would like to thank the swimmer from Pacific County for their heroism and extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected by this horrible tragedy."
Weather conditions at the time of the search were challenging, with 8-knot winds coming from the Northwest and 3-foot waves. The air temperature hovered around 53 degrees, while the water was reported to also be cold to seriously impact endurance, at 54 degrees. Such conditions can quickly become dangerous, especially for inexperienced swimmers or those unprepared for the sudden changes that coastal waters can present.
