Friends and family of a teenager who tragically drowned at Fort Lauderdale Beach are in mourning over his passing on Friday afternoon. Although his identity has not been released publicly, some of his basketball teammates reportedly entered the water, where they struggled in rough surf before some were pulled from it, while one remains missing.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue immediately responded and conducted an intensive search of the area where he or she went missing, eventually recovering his or her body after several hours in search and recovery operations. Lifeguards reported that conditions in the water were particularly challenging, with strong waves and currents making it difficult for teens to return safely to shore.
Witnesses to Saturday’s events described it as being highly turbulent, with strong waves making the conditions especially trying for beachgoers who were out observing them. Fire rescue officials noted that conditions became even rougher on Saturday, making their search efforts even more complicated than usual.
A woman speaking anonymously told NBC6 that she was concerned for the teens’ well-being when they tried to return to shore after being out in the water for so long, particularly because their safety had become an issue due to the difficulty in reaching land again. She expressed concern for their welfare. Contact us for Disaster Relief Services today