A 22-year-old man has been missing since last Friday evening, after he went swimming off Rockaway Beach in Queens during a period when intense thunderstorms hit the area; despite ongoing searches by the NYPD's specialized units, there have yet to be any definitive signs of his whereabouts. The man was last spotted around 6 p.m. near Beach 20th Street and Seagirt Avenue, and the NYPD alongside local first responders have been scouring the region since the emergency calls came in, as per reports from Patch.
Witness and advocate for water safety Kaitlin Krause, who was present at Rockaway Beach setting up a swim safety instruction, witnessed the initial search efforts, stating "The irony is, I was there to give a water safety talk. I was literally setting up my handouts when I saw the firetrucks charging down the boardwalk," this information was obtained by Gothamist. Krause has been in touch with the swimmer's family, who are deeply concerned. The family disclosed to her that he was a recent immigrant from Niger and had taken just his second day off work in two years on the day of his disappearance.
The area is recognized by officials and residents as having potentially hazardous water conditions due to strong currents beneath a calm surface. So far this summer, city lifeguards have conducted 126 beach rescues. If the swimmer is not found, it would be the second reported drowning in this location since April.
Footage of the ongoing search operation, which includes boats, divers, lifeguards, and emergency services working together, was shared on the Citizen app over the weekend. As the search for the missing young man continues, there have been no confirmed developments. Speaking to Gothamist, Krause described the urgency of the operation, stating, “It literally feels like time is set on fire and you're burning it all up, because this kid has no oxygen.”
