Body of Missing Swimmer Found on Long Beach

Swimmer drowned; sunbather injured as rescuers accidentally run him over

An official says the body of a Brooklyn swimmer who went missing has been found at a Long Island beach.

Long Beach City Manager Charles Theofan says Emanuel Tiburcio's body was found Saturday at Atlantic Beach.

Nineteen-year-old Tiburcio, did not know how to swim. Officials say Tiburcio struggled in rough surf Wednesday as his friends helplessly watched him go under and down.

Tiburcio's body was discovered about noon Saturday at Silver Point. That's on the western part of Atlantic Beach, about 25 miles southeast of the city.

Tiburcio's sister, Angie Dorbille spoke with News 4 about the tragic event saying, "they (Tiburcio and his friends) were in the front of the beach and a big tidal wave came. The first one came and he tried to hold on to the rock and more kept coming and he just disappeared in the water and they can't find his body."

About a half a mile away, a sunbather was accidentally run over by a Long Beach police officer who was reportedly rushing to the scene of  another rescue -- one of 10 water rescues at Long Beach as scores of sunbathers and swimmers took advantage of 90-degree weather before the official start of summer.

Witnesses say the driver of the police SUV had no clue he had run over the  sunbather until he was flagged down by beachgoers. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and said to have a broken spine and rib.

The victim's friends were part of group of swimmers that had to be rescued during the time the beach was supposed to be closed to beachgoers.  The official beach season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend.

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