Two teenagers went missing in the water Friday, just minutes after lifeguards at a busy New York City beach ended their shift.
The boys, who police say are 16 and 17 years old, were swimming in Jacob Riis Park in Queens when witnesses said they saw a huge wave overtake them and the two never resurfaced. FDNY rescuers were deployed to the water just after 6 p.m. after receiving a mayday call, but even the most experienced swimmers and divers were called back to shore.
According to authorities, the search involving naval units and fire boats lasted almost five hours.
Drones and helicopters deployed from a nearby airport circled the area Saturday morning. Officials vowed to find the boys in what is now a recovery effort.
The teens have not been identified and the NYPD said it is unclear whether they were able to swim. NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Operations Kaz Daughtry added that the situation is parents’ worst nightmare.
“We think it may be a tidal wave, but that is still under investigation,” Daughtry said Friday.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
