Teenager Drowns In Rockaway Riptide

A 19-year-old man from The Bronx drowned in Far Rockaway yesterday where he and his girlfriend had been enjoying a day at the beach. 19-year-old Daniel O'Neil swam outside the designated area near the East Rockaway Inlet near Beach 25th Street around 3 p.m. Lifeguards eventually pulled O'Neil out and and FDNY EMTs took him to St. John's Episcopal Hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour later. O'Neil had just graduated from Mount St. Michael High School and volunteered in the rectory of Sacred Heart Church in Mount Vernon. He was set to attend John Jay College in the fall and hoped to one day be a lawyer. His aunt told the News, "He was a young kid who wanted to prove to himself that he was a young man. He was full of life, full of youth." Lifeguards say that there has been a strong riptide over the last two weekends, forcing an unusually high number of swimmers to be pulled out of the water. The National Weather Service has tips here on what to do if you are caught in rip currents.

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By Billy Parker in News on August 2, 2009 1:00 PM

Comments [rss]

b33n

those rips out there are rogue. they move around like you wouldn't believe. rockaways could definitely use some more lifeguards... as it stands, they only hang out near the swim beaches... i don't know that i've ever seen anyone even do a walk or drive-by at any of the surf beaches further up the shore. considering how few kids in NYC are actually taught to swim, let alone swim in the Ocean, it's unfortunate.

Pdrake

I was at the beach when they pulled him out of the water. The only rescue people that were there were lifeguards. They administered the CPR, pounding his chest, rubbing his legs, etc. Park ranger vehicles came in and out but nothing much was going on. Some policemen showed up and hung around but did nothing else. I expected a helicopter or ambulance but none showed up. He was not rushed to the hospital. Maybe they didn't want to move him. From the time they pulled him out of the water until I left was at least a half hour.

I was in the water myself in the protected area and did not notice any strong undertow or riptide

silver

Those Rockaway waters are suicide with their currents.

Steven

Too many people and men think they're macho. Never underestimate the power of water. You go outside of the swimming area and look what happens.