A 14-year-old boy drowned while swimming in the rough ocean waters of Far Rockaway, Queens, on Sunday evening, July 2.
The incident occurred near Beach 75th Street at around 5:45 pm, shortly after the beach had closed early due to inclement weather.
Eyewitnesses, traumatized by the event, recounted the distressing sight of the boy after he was brought ashore. They described him as foaming at the mouth and “blue from head to toe.”
The young swimmer found himself in perilous conditions amidst stormy seas and remained submerged for several minutes. A retired lifeguard, who happened to be visiting a friend at the time, responded upon hearing the urgent whistle signals.
“They started blowing the whistle like crazy,” said Basia Lewandowski, the former lifeguard who acted as her friend’s onshore liaison. “It’s something we call case whistles, long whistles, or emergency whistles.”
While Lewandowski relayed information from the shore, her lifeguard friend and other rescuers courageously plunged into the waves to reach the distressed boy. Regrettably, their efforts were in vain, as by the time they reached him, it was too late.
Lewandowski recounted the harrowing scene she witnessed, stating, “He was foaming. He had a lot of water. He was in there for four or five minutes.”
The boy’s distraught mother stood on the beach, awaiting his return. Overwhelmed with despair, she prayed fervently for her son’s safety. The tragedy deeply affected not only the bereaved mother but also the lifeguards, who were left in tears.
According to the Parks Department, there were no lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident, as the beach had closed early—around 5 pm—due to thunder and lightning, following standard protocols. Red flags had been raised to warn beachgoers about the hazardous swimming conditions.
The identity of the 14-year-old victim has not been disclosed, and officials have not provided immediate details about the circumstances surrounding the drowning.
