Coney Island

Search underway for missing swimmer off of Coney Island

The missing swimmer was with another person in the water, that person was ultimately rescued, police and witnesses said

Chopper 4

What to Know

  • One swimmer has gone missing off of the waters of Coney Island Thursday afternoon, police said.
  • Divers plunged into the Atlantic Ocean looking for two missing swimmers -- possibly boys -- around 12:45 p.m.
  • One was ultimately rescued, while the other continues to remain missing as an active search for him is underway, police said.

One swimmer has gone missing out on Coney Island Thursday afternoon, police said.

Divers plunged into the Atlantic Ocean looking for two missing swimmers -- possibly boys -- around 12:45 p.m. One was ultimately rescued, while the other continues to remain missing as an active search for him is underway, police said.

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Just moments before the swimmers disappeared in the water, Kevin, a beachgoer, told News 4 New York he was in chest deep water with them.

Witness after witness told News 4 New York the same thing: they saw the boys and told them if they weren't strong swimmers they needed to head to shore.

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However, people on the beach started to hear screams and realized the swimmers were in trouble. Beachgoers ran to the waves to try to help the struggling swimmers.

One witness said when the police and parks security arrived he saw they pulled one person out of the water and raced him to stretcher.

As the search for the other person continues, onlookers were emotional. A woman under a green umbrella was distraught. Witnesses say she's related to the two swimmers.

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