Lawmakers call for safety after teens go missing while swimming in Queens

QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) – Leaders are demanding new safety measures for New York City beaches on Tuesday in an effort to prevent drownings.

Two teenagers went missing last week in the water at the Jacob Riis Park beach. It led to a massive search effort by the NYPD, FDNY and Coast Guard.

The boys, ages 16 and 17, tried to jump over a big wave and never came back up , according to authorities. They went missing just after lifeguards went off-duty at 6 p.m.

Two bodies were found on nearby beaches over the weekend, but police have not identified them as the missing teenagers.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. is calling for the hours lifeguards are on duty to be extended. Other safety measures he wants include extending the beach season beyond early September, addressing the city’s lifeguard shortage and building new community pools on the Rockaway peninsula so that there are options for safer swimming.

Richards, along with other elected officials, will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. They’ll also be joined by members of the Swim Strong Foundation, an organization that advocates for swim lessons and life-saving water skills.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018 . She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here .

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