HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – The body of a fifteen-year-old boy, previously reported missing, was tragically found off the Huntington Beach Pier, officials announced on Thursday. Initially, the report of the missing teenager was made on July 28, near Huntington Beach’s lifeguard tower 11, where he had gone swimming with a friend. They had encountered large waves and robust rip currents that day, described by the officials as reaching up to three to five feet in height.
Both teenagers were out swimming, but unfortunately, only one of them managed to return to the shore, according to Jennifer Carey, the Public Information Officer of Huntington Beach. A multiple-agency search ensued, including Huntington Beach Marine Safety lifeguards, but the operation was unsuccessful.
Divers and swimmers scoured the waters for the missing teenager for one and a half hours before calling off the ground search. However, an air and land search continued throughout the night, carried out by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department air unit lifeguards.
After 24 hours without any success, the search for the missing boy came to an agonizing stop. On August 5th, a body was discovered near lifeguard tower 3, later identified by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division as the missing teenager. The harrowing confirmation of the deceased boy devestated everyone who was involved, and Huntington Beach Fire Department extended their sincerest condolences to the young swimmer’s family and friends.
In light of the tragic incident, authorities cautioned beachgoers about the dangers of strong rip currents, recommending swimming only at beaches with lifeguard supervision.