Search for missing 10-year-old boy in Long Beach calls on local help

Wantagh FD assists in search

Posted

FINAL UPDATE: All recovery efforts for the missing boy have been suspended, according to officials.

Furthermore, an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the missing boy was 8-years-old based on information provided by authorities. He is 10.  

Update: This article has been updated to reflect the ongoing search's status and a comment from the Wantagh FD.

Members of the Wantagh Fire Department were active in the search for an 8-year-old boy who went missing while swimming at Edwards Boulevard beach in Long Beach on Tuesday. Several of the department's units, including its dive team, were used to assist local, state and federal authorities in the search.

According to the Wantagh FD, the search continued early Wednesday morning, but they are no longer at the scene, stating that it became a recovery incident continued by the United States Coast Guard.

As of 11:30 a.m. on June 20, the Coast Guard released a statement, "suspending their search after covering an area of approximately 310 nautical miles."

Rescue crews scoured the water for hours for the boy, who was swimming with his 11-year-old brother. The 11-year-old boy was taken South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside in stable condition.

Ken Kelly, First Assistant Chief of the Wantagh FD, thanked the Long Beach Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and other rescue workers for handling the situation as best as they could.

“It’s a very sad situation," Kelly added, "but I know that the members of all that are involved, from paid to volunteer, did an outstanding job this situation.”

Read the full story from Anthony Rifilato.