Rescue crews searching for boy missing off Jacksonville Beach

Boy, 14, last seen struggling before disappearing into water

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Ocean rescue crews are searching Sunday for a 14-year-old boy last spotted struggling in an area known for rip currents, authorities said. 

The boy was seen struggling by multiple witnesses just before 2 p.m. about 15 yards from shore, officials said. 

Jaheem Patterson, who spoke for the family of the missing teen, said he and the family are devastated after doing everything they could to save the boy, though their efforts weren’t enough. 

“I ran over there to him, and then his uncle or brother swam over there as close as he could get, but when I tried to reach him, all I could see was his hand," Patterson said. "Then I see the waves take him out. I didn’t even see his face. I just saw his hand go up. It was a real struggle. I got afraid and I couldn’t go out there any further, so I had to let it go. I only saw him one time and that was it. His hand went under and that was it."

When lifeguards entered the water, they lost sight of him. 

“When we attempted to do the rescue, that is when we lost eyes on the patient," Max Ervanian, with Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue, said.

An intense search and rescue operation by lifeguards, state and local police and the Coast Guard lasted nearly two hours. They searched on water and by air but could not locate the boy.

Officials said the operation then transitioned to search and recovery as beachgoers looked on in disbelief.

One of those beachgoers, Lauren Wright, went to the beach with her husband and three children.

“It’s heartbreaking, and I feel for the parents and family involved," Wright said. "It’s very scary. All the people were running to try and save the young guy, but it just didn’t happen.”

Lifeguards were warning people all weekend to stay out of the water due to dangerous conditions. 

Ocean Rescue conducted 10 water rescues at Jacksonville Beach Sunday.  Authorities said that’s an unusually high number of rescues for an October afternoon compared with a Saturday in July. 

Officials said the boy went missing in an area that does not have a lifeguard station.


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