4 swimmers die at new york beaches

[angelbaby (Premo)]

4 Swimmers Die at New York BeachesBy KAREN MATTHEWS, APposted: 17 MINUTES AGOcomments: 1011PrintSharefiled under: National NewsText SizeAAANEW YORK (July 27) - Rescuers suspended their search Sunday for a 10-year-old girl in the water off Coney Island, one of three swimmers still missing from powerful ocean currents at New York City and Long Island beaches over the weekend.
Four other victims drowned at local beaches Friday and Saturday, authorities said.
Swimmers Swept AwayNicholas Fevelo, NY Daily NewsFour swimmers drowned and three were missing after a storm system brought strong currents to Long Island and New York City beaches Saturday. Among the missing is a 10-year-old girl who disappeared in the waters off Coney Island. Above, her family members cry as police organize a search for her.
The search for the girl was suspended Sunday afternoon pending further developments, Coast Guard Cmdr. Gregory Hitchen said.
Akira Johnson was pulled under by currents while swimming with her cousin Saturday afternoon. Her cousin, Tyriek Currie, also 10, was rescued.
The children's grandfather, Charles German, went to the beach Sunday to watch the search effort. He said the family was doing as well as could be expected.
With a steady punch of stronger rip currents possible over the weekend, "only experienced surf swimmers should enter the waters," said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Connolly.
A strong storm system spawned rough seas and 8-foot waves to the area earlier this week, Connolly said.
Some authorities said the spate of swimmers being swept away seemed unprecedented. In the Long Island community of Long Beach, where two people drowned and another disappeared, Police Lt. Bruce Meyer said he "cannot recall there ever being back-to-back situations like this."
Among the other swimmers who disappeared or drowned:
- A 29-year-old man died Saturday evening after struggling about 150 yards from shore on Long Beach in Long Island. Lifeguards reached him within minutes, but rescuers and hospital staffers were unable to revive him, police Lt. Bruce Meyer said.
- Also in Long Beach, a man died and a teenager went missing Friday during football game in about 3 to 5 feet of water after lifeguard hours, officials said.
- A 42-year-old man died Saturday afternoon after swimming at a beach in East Quogue in Suffolk County, Southampton Town police said.
- A 23-year-old man was missing after being swept away Friday at a Queens beach known for strong undertows and riptides, the Coast Guard said. Authorities called off the search Saturday after looking for him for 23 hours, the Coast Guard said.
- A man in his 20s drowned Friday afternoon while swimming at Sandy Bar Beach on Long Island's East End, authorities said.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-07-26 21:49:27

Very sad.

[CableChick (Premo)]

Undercurrents are nothing to mess with When I was about 6 I got pulled out by one in Myrtle Beach.

My mom is terrified of the water and she was the only one that came to get me. We were then both pulled out to just near the end of the pier and were hanging on to the pilings. My mom was pretty cut up by the barnicles as she clung to the wood trying to keep us both from going further out.

By the time the lifeguard finally noticed what was going on some man had already come out to help. The lifeguard was the one who ( when he finally reached us ) helped me out and the other man helped my mom out.

My dad was away up in the hotel room w/ my brother or something. It was so long ago I barely remember.

Scary though..

[HeadCase]

I'm glad you all were ok....I've heard the same about the undercurrents so I never venture too far.

That was a happy ending to a scarey event.

[Cowgirl]

Glad GW made it back safely! :whew:

[CalvertNewbie]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

Glad GW made it back safely! :whew:

I was just thinking the same thing as I read this.

Those undercurrents can be really strong at the ocean beaches. I got pulled out by one on Long Island when I was about 12. I had only been in waist high water and got pulled under feet first and dragged along the ocean bottom. Finally, it stopped and I was able to get back to the top. I was a pretty good distance away from land at that point. It happens so quickly that you don't even have time to take a breath before getting pulled underwater. It's amazing anyone lives.

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

Glad GW made it back safely! :whew:

Originally Posted by CalvertNewbie

I was just thinking the same thing as I read this.

Those undercurrents can be really strong at the ocean beaches. I got pulled out by one on Long Island when I was about 12. I had only been in waist high water and got pulled under feet first and dragged along the ocean bottom. Finally, it stopped and I was able to get back to the top. I was a pretty good distance away from land at that point. It happens so quickly that you don't even have time to take a breath before getting pulled underwater. It's amazing anyone lives.

Nice to know I'm loved...
There were 10 deaths on LI during the week I was there. We were at Cupsogue Beach and there was a rescue in progress while we watched. The rip there is very bad, and being a lifeguard for many years, I can tell you that water was nasty.

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by angelbaby

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Very sad.

OOPS!