By Jeff Lipton
Osama Shafeeq, 19, went missing last Friday evening, and a body, tentatively identified as Shafeeq, was found Tuesday morning.
At about 6:30 p.m. on July 25, Long Beach police received a 911 call reporting "two swimmers in distress" at Riverside Boulevard, authorities said. Cousins Shafeeq and Fahad Zahidi, 23, of Levittown, were swimming when they were reportedly caught in a riptide at 6:20 p.m., and were being pulled further out into the water, officials said. Zahidi was trying to help his cousin when he was swept by the current and submerged, police said.
Long Beach lifeguard John Skudin reached Zahidi and brought him ashore, where lifesaving efforts began. "[I] got down there, entered the water, got sight of the victim and did what I could for him," said Skudin, the beach supervisor. "It was not lifeguarding as usual."
The Long Beach Fire Department rushed Zahidi to Long Beach Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m., according to Long Beach Police Lt. Bruce Meyer.
At about 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Long Beach police received a call from a woman taking her morning jog along the oceanfront, reporting that a body had washed up at Virginia Avenue. City officers and detectives found a dead man there and tentatively identified him as Shafeeq because of his clothing and his close proximity to where he disappeared.
The city Police Department was awaiting positive identification from the Nassau County Medical Examiner's Office as the Herald went to press.
Shafeeq graduated from Valley Stream Central High in June, where he was an active member of Future Business Leaders of America. Principal Dr. Joseph Pompilio said Shafeeq earned first place in numerous competitions and had received a scholarship to attend Baruch College in the fall.
"I remember him with a great sense of humor, always smiling, and always dressed in business attire; just a very warm kid," Pompilio said. "I remember his face at graduation, just seeing so much promise in him, so this is pretty devastating."
A third victim drowned in the water off Long Beach on Saturday. John Swiderski, 29, of Wantagh, apparently was surfing when he was knocked off the board into the water, officials said.
Lifeguards were not on duty at the time of either incident. Long Beach police have since imposed a "zero tolerance" policy in dealing with swimmers who ignore warnings about going into the water after hours when lifeguards are not on duty - between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. - in response to the drownings.
Anthony Bottan and Ariella Monti contributed to this story. Comments about it? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
