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NYPD: Teen drowns while swimming in Rockaways — second apparent drowning this week


By

Michelle Bocanegra

Published Jul 29, 2023

Modified Jul 30, 2023


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A stock image of the beach at Jacob Riis Park. A 19-year-old man drowned off the coast Friday night, police said.

 

Shutterstock


By

Michelle Bocanegra

Published Jul 29, 2023

Modified Jul 30, 2023


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A 19-year-old boy drowned on Friday night while swimming near the shores of Jacob Riis Park at the Rockaway Peninsula, police said.

The NYPD identified Amadou Thiam, a Brooklyn resident, as the second teenager to apparently drown at a New York City-area beach this week. Officials were on the scene around 7:45 p.m. on Friday after responding to reports of a drowning.

Thiam’s body washed ashore roughly two hours later — around 9:45 p.m., police said. He was taken to Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, where he was pronounced dead.

Police could not immediately say if lifeguards were on duty at the time of the teenager’s drowning, but lifeguard hours for the swimming beach at Jacob Riis end at 6 p.m., according to the National Park Service’s website.

Authorities on Saturday resumed a previously abandoned search for a 15-year-old boy who appears to have drowned off the beach at Coney Island. City Councilmember Justin Brannan tweeted on Sunday that the boy's body was recovered over the weekend.

That missing swimmer, who has not been publicly identified, was with another teen who was successfully rescued by authorities on Thursday.

This story has been updated with additional information about the 15-year-old boy who drowned off the beach at Coney Island.

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public safety

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Michelle Bocanegra

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