NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Police are searching for a missing 15-year-old boy from Queens after he went swimming with some friends and one of the friends’ stepdad near Bay Breeze Park in Rockaway Beach.
Authorities responded to the scene at 87-66 Beach Channel Drive after getting a call around 5 p.m. Sunday.
Johnathon Pender said he tried to rescue the teen several times but failed.
"The current was really rough, it was pulling me, and i'm in this water everyday," he said. "I actually do the free kayaking here, and I've never seen the water that rough before."
Pender said he was able to bring him to the surface several times, but the teen began to panic and eventually slipped from his grip.
The Jamaica Bay area is for kayak and canoe launching and swimming is prohibited.Police called the search off around 8 p.m. on Sunday resumed at daybreak on Monday.