Missing swimmer found dead after 7-hour search

An 18-year-old was found dead along the coast of Arverne early Wednesday. Photo via the Parks Department.

By Rachel Vick

An 18-year-old was found dead along the coast of Arverne early Wednesday after he and another teen were caught in strong waters.

The boy’s body was discovered by rescue workers at around 3:30 a.m. — more than seven hours after NYPD officers first responded to 911 calls of distressed swimmers at 8 p.m. Tuesday night near Beach 61st Street.

When officers arrived at the beach, a 14-year-old boy was on the shoreline after being rescued by first responders. He was transported to St. John’s Hospital, where he was in stable condition. 

The second teen was still missing after a preliminary search. He was found by a jetty near the initial incident, unconscious and unresponsive. EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.

His name has not been released pending family notification.