Rescue crews suspend search for missing swimmer

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Rescue crews suspended recovery efforts Monday night after searching for a missing 30-year-old man who went for a late-night swim with friends at Long Beach boulevard.

The search for Neil Gibbons, an Ireland native who was believed to be living in Brooklyn, started at around 2 a.m. Monday morning, and he was unable to be located. Long Beach police, firefighters, lifeguards and other first responders scoured the water and the shoreline.

“After searching extensively throughout the night and daylight hours, in coordination with our partner agencies, we have made the difficult decision to suspend our search,” said Commander Andrew Ely, chief of response, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound.

Long Beach Fire Commissioner Scott Kemins said first responders were notified that multiple swimmers were in distress at Long Beach Boulevard beach early Monday.

“Upon arrival, three males had been swimming in the ocean, two of which were able to make it out safely,” the Fire Department said on its Facebook page. “The third male had gone missing in the rough surf and the water rescue matrix was activated. The Long Beach Police Department, Long Beach lifeguards, United States Coast Guard, Nassau County Police Marine & Aviation Bureau, Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, Atlantic Beach Rescue and NYPD Air and Sea Rescue all operated at the scene.”

Rescue crews searched for about two hours before they declared it a recovery mission and continued searching, Kemins said. They covered more than 650 miles for 29 hours, according to the Coast Guard.

Kemins said the water was extremely rough, and that two men noticed their friend was missing.

"The three of them were in the water, two got out and they realized their friend didn't come out," Kemins said. "They were screaming and looking for him."

The men rushed to a good samaritan on the boardwalk who called 911, he added. Police searched the water and the shoreline before pulling out because of the rough conditions, Kemins said. The search resumed in the morning — at around 11:30 a.m., four boats and two helicopters searched the area.

The missing swimmer is believed to be from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Kemins said.

It was the second time a swimmer went missing in a week. On June 19, a 10-year-old boy from Hempstead entered the water at Edwards Boulevard beach with his 11-year-old brother when both began to struggle in rough water.

Both incidents occurred while lifeguards were not on duty.

On Sunday, police recovered a boy's body at Lincoln Boulevard beach and said the Nassau County medical examiner will determine whether it's the missing 10-year-old.

This is a developing story.