A 14-year-old boy drowned while swimming in the rough ocean waters of Far Rockaway, Queens, on Sunday evening, July 2, after the beach had been closed due to the weather.

The unfortunate event took place around 5:45 pm near Beach 75th Street.

Bystanders, left shaken by the incident, detailed the harrowing sight of the boy when he was finally brought to the shore and described as “blue from head to toe” and foaming at the mouth.

The teenager found himself battling against fierce waves and remained under the water for several critical minutes. An off-duty lifeguard, who was at the scene, sprang into action upon hearing the distinct whistle alerts indicating a serious incident.

Describing the urgent whistle calls, Basia Lewandowski, a former lifeguard, explained, “We call it case whistles, or emergency whistles. It’s a sign of extreme urgency.”

As Lewandowski acted as a communication link from the shore, another lifeguard and others dove into the choppy sea to reach the boy. Regrettably, their  efforts fell short, as the boy was already in critical condition by the time they got to him.

Relaying her observations, Lewandowski said, “He was in a bad state. He was underwater for a long time, about four or five minutes.”

The mother of the boy was on the beach, praying for her son’s safety. The tragic event deeply affected everyone present, including the lifeguards who couldn’t hold back their tears.

The Parks Department confirmed that lifeguards were off duty due to the early closure of the beach at 5 pm, following standard protocol during thunderstorms. Red flags had been put up to caution visitors about the dangerous swimming conditions.