Teenage swimmer missing in Huntington Beach: Coast Guard calls off search
The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that they have called off the search for a teenage swimmer who went missing in Huntington Beach on Sunday evening. The 15-year-old boy was last seen swimming with friends near Lifeguard Tower 11, just south of the Huntington Beach Pier, before he disappeared.
Multi-agency search effort launched
After receiving reports of the missing swimmer, the Coast Guard deployed a small boat crew from Station Los Angeles-Long Beach, a Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station San Diego, and the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Blackfin Tuna to assist in the search. Partner agencies also joined in the search efforts to locate the missing teenager.
Dangers of rip currents highlighted
Despite the search efforts, the rough conditions at sea, with waves reaching three to five feet high and strong rip currents, hampered the search operation. The Coast Guard emphasized the dangers of rip currents and advised beachgoers to avoid swimming in areas with strong currents and to always swim at beaches where lifeguards are present.
“Strong rip currents can be dangerous even for the strongest swimmers,” the Coast Guard warned. A rip current is a fast-moving water channel that can quickly carry swimmers away from the shore.
If caught in a rip current, swimmers are advised to remain calm, avoid struggling against the current, and instead swim parallel to the shore to escape its pull.
